This vintage shikishi art card beautifully captures the tranquil essence of Japanese autumn through the poetic phrase 紅葉滿山川 (kōyō yama kawa ni michiru), meaning “Autumn leaves fill the mountains and rivers.” The refined calligraphy flows vertically, paired with delicately hand-painted motifs of red maple leaves, ginkgo fans, and ginkgo nuts, symbolizing the seasonal change and the fleeting beauty of fall.
The oldest poetry collection, "Manyoshu," already reflects the custom of going out to admire the autumn leaves. In the Heian period's "The Tale of Genji," there are also depictions of splendid scenes of autumn leaf viewing. Just as cherry blossoms symbolize spring, autumn leaves have become one of the iconic symbols of autumn. Since ancient times, the expression "mountains and rivers filled with autumn leaves" has been used to describe forests and landscapes dyed in beautiful shades of red and yellow, stirring people's hearts to venture out and enjoy the autumn foliage.
