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神奈川沖浪裏 (1831)
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘞𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘒𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘸𝘢
Such elastic renditions have been made of this monstrous wave, that The Wave may just be literature. It contains a beginning, middle, and end (the villages of coastal people, setting out to sea, before navigating into tempestuous troubles). This one painting launches all elements necessary of a full 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺— an archetypal, odyssean 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘷𝘴. 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 tale.
But, is this just a 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘷𝘴. 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 piece? Could it also be 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘷𝘴. 𝘮𝘢𝘯? Now, this is instagram; I don't get enough words 1) to divulge into the historical context of the woodblock— like how The Wave on the left flank symbolizes "The West," or how the use of notorious, Prussian blue marks the cultural imprint of early European influence in Japanese art. If permitted, I would attempt 2) to situate you in the fantastic artistic-literary era and scholastic culture of East Asia in the 1800s. I would then aim 3) to enact a proper literary analysis of this work's argument and psychological attitude towards colonialism and change— change as a tsunami: monstrous but inevitable. I would proceed 4) to dissect symbols, focal points, and metaphors that transcend this piece. Only then, I could try 5) to bridge The Wave to its inspirations, contemporaries, and reproductions— visual, musical, and literary alike.
Perhaps what is so clever about this piece is that it "freezes" precisely the moment of metamorphosis: the moment in which the towering Wave eclipses the feat of the sail. It fixates on the precise moment when faith is tested.
Yet, paradoxically, the water is not frozen at all. It's movement can be seen, and its gravity, felt. In stillness and movement at once, The Wave visualizes a contemplation of yin and yang.
That said, it is curious how a piece so well-known can also be so unfamiliar. Though many have seen it— or some rendition of it— we scarcely know its name or its origin. How could an artist so accomplished die so anonymous? How could an image be so famous and yet so formless, such that anybody can modify its colors and reconfigure its components, yet still recognize its origins?
February 17, 2026
Week of 1/18/26 - 1/24/26
This week, I wanted to play with the linguistic aspect of framing and literary world creating. I am currently reading Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, which has been of creative inspiration. These are some of the pieces I have written to start the new year.
Week of 9/21/25 - 9/27/25
In this piece I contemplated a much larger project. It is a journey-archetype story, but is also meant to serve as a guide document, implementing the Greek element of loci-- a rhetorical technique used to spatially organize a piece with the intention of strategically orientating a reader.
Dun dunWeek of 9/14/25 - 9/20/25
This week I continued thinking about the cross-cultural appreciation of tea and infusion beverages. I am currently reading a fantastic book called A Thirst for Empire by Erika Dianne Rappaport, while also reading 1421 by Gavin Menzies. What is clear is that the diffusion of tea throughout the world also carried with it the diffusion of tea-culture, and more largely, Chinese Taoist culture.
The drums rolledWeek of 9/7/25 - 9/13/25
This week I played with the ideas of tea as a substance that is also present in other texts, like Don Quijote's bálsamo, or in Medea´s magical elixir that revives Jason. Herbs, teas, balms, elixirs, and love-potions have long served as literary tools employed by writers to alter the actions, consequences, and desires of their characters.
Some of the story has been clipped from public view for further development. Thank you for your understanding.
Teamaster! What have you done?Week of 8/31/25 - 9/6/2025
This week I played with the ideas of tea as a divine substance, and the wine offered at the altar, which obviously must have captured the attention of the immortal pantheon.
The Case of TeaBefore 8/30/25
This was a piece for my creative writing class, which I liked.
Sep 14 9:50pm
Autumn again.
The turning of the leaves.
Our search for cool river bends to frolick,
The sun begins to set even earlier.
A large jasmine dragon.
Two horns, full of perfectly brewed Jasmine Tea.
Each time he’d pour us one glass,
Tilting his head to pour us a cup,
The other would fill by the time he stabilized once more,
The leaves of a jasmine tree floated into some cups
How tasty
The cats jump on his back
How much I want to please this dragon
So my body began to move
To show how much I love his tea.
I began to bend and swing my waist, the
Full length of my spine a long serpent-like spirit.
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