The fan-shaped sheet depicts an episode from chapter 24 of Genji monogatari (The Tale of Genji), written by court lady Murasaki Shikibu in the early eleventh century. Eight children are dancing the kochō and karyōbin elements of the traditional Japanese bugaku dance in front of Prince Genji, who is dressed in a white kimono and accompanied by two courtiers.

The karyōbin shows the dance of the karyōbinga, mythical birds from Buddhist sutras that are said to have wonderful voices and live in the Himalayas. Kochō, the butterfly dance, was created in the Heian period (794–1185) as an additional dance.

The deep blue water on the right contrasts with the scene set on a gold background. The cherry blossoms and golden willow branches in the children’s hands, mentioned in Murasaki’s text, are part of the composition and are reflected in the golden willow bush on the right and the flowering cherry tree in the center.