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When he appeared before the lord, his lordship was smitten…

“When he appeared before the lord, his lordship was smitten immediately with the boy's unadorned beauty, like a first glimpse of the moon rising above a distant mountain. The boy's hair gleamed like the feathers of a raven perched silently on a tree, and his eyes were lovely as lotus flowers. One…” quote by Saikaku Ihara
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““When he appeared before the lord, his lordship was smitten immediately with the boy's unadorned beauty, like a first glimpse of the moon rising above a distant mountain. The boy's hair gleamed like the feathers of a raven perched silently on a tree, and his eyes were lovely as lotus flowers. One by one his other qualities became apparent, from his nightingale voice to his gentle disposition, as obedient and true as a plum blossom.””

Saikaku Ihara

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A lord is instantly captivated by a boy’s simple, natural beauty and virtues, likened to moon, lotus, and raven imagery.

In simple terms: Lord falls for boy’s pure, unadorned charm.

Key Takeaway

Appreciate authentic beauty.

Themes

beauty nature innocence appreciation

Mood

admiring contemplative

Type

Beauty:1 Boy:1 Delicate:1 Japan:1 Lotus:1 Love:1 Moon:1 Night:1 Pure:1 Queer:0 Raven:1 Raven Perched:1 Qualities Apparent:1 Appeared Lord:1 Lordship Smitten:1 Unadorned Beauty:1

When to use this quote

  • art criticism
  • romantic literature
  • personal reflection

Key Concepts

aesthetic character study

Questions to Reflect On

  • What does “unadorned beauty” mean to you?
  • How do cultural contexts affect perception?
A Different Perspective

Modern readers may view the dynamic as problematic.

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