PLATE XL
The Classical Dance of the Butterflies
The classical dance, known as the Bu-gaku, is of continental origin, being derived from India, Indo-China, China and Korea; but several forms of it were developed in Japan in the course of the 9th, 10th and 11th centuries. The Butterfly Dance shown here, representing butterflies dancing among flowers, is one of these Japanese versions.
By Hirotsura (died 1864), Tosa School. See p. 335. In possession of Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
