Painting on paper, mineral pigments and gold leaf, mounted as a 6-panel screen. Silk brocade and lacquered wood borders, engraved brass protective fittings.

This early 19th-century Edo-period screen depicts several scenes from The Tale of Genji, a major literary work written by Lady Murasaki in the early 11th century. This novel, often considered the first novel in history, chronicles the life and loves of Hikaru Genji, a prince of the imperial court.
The central section of this screen is particularly remarkable. It illustrates Chapter 24 of The Tale of Genji, in which court maidens, dressed as butterflies and kalavinka birds, dance beneath the cherry blossoms. The beauty of this scene is striking, showing not only the court figures but also the dancers and musicians. The kalavinka, a mythical bird whose melodious song is considered the voice of the Buddha, adds a spiritual dimension to this depiction.

The event described in this chapter is a formal Buddhist sutra reading ceremony sponsored by the Empress. This ceremony, reflecting the imperial court's piety and support for Buddhism, underscores the importance of religious rituals in aristocratic society during the Heian period ( 794–1185 ). Buddhist rituals were often integrated into court festivities, symbolizing both religious devotion and cultural refinement.