A bride is being escorted to her wedding accompanied by several married women. They are passing a table with an arrangement of auspicious figurines and floral elements. Two figurines are Jo and Uba, an elderly couple who symbolize longevity and...
Meiji period color woodblock triptych print depicting seven women in a room engaged in a poetry composition contest. Three of the women sit before writing tables, brushes in hand, writing poems on narrow strips of paper; a elderly woman sits with...
legends (folk tales); women; men (male humans); kimonos; lanterns (lighting devices); children (people by age group); tables (support furniture); arches
The Nabeshima family, daimyo of Hizen Province, continued to be plagued by a cat monster (see Plates 34-35). According to legend, the mistress of the Lord of Saga Castle was killed by a cat monster that possessed her body and then slowly drained...
fans (costume accessories); women; kimonos; snow (precipitation); trees; blinds (coverings); tables (support furniture); built works
The 10-11th century poet Sei Shonagon was invited to join the Imperial Court to enhance the literary atmosphere around Empress Teishi's entourage. Sei was known for her quick wit and critical eye, and compiled a "Pillowbook / Makura no Soshi" of...
women; kimonos; flowers (plants); tables (support furniture); calligraphy; hairstyles; hair ornaments; teapots; children (people by age group); swords; figurines
While Japan has many national and regional celebrations, five festivals / gosseku were given particular importance. Chikanobu presents them from right to left: the New Year Festival / Oshogatsu when special gifts are offered on footed trays of...
women; men (male humans); kimonos; masks (costume); tables (support furniture); screens (furniture); built works
The 11th century Tale of Genji was parodied by Ryutei Tanehiko (1783-1842) in his serial novel False Murasaki, Rustic Genji / Nise Murasaki, Inaka Genji with Mitsu-uji substituted for Prince Genji and all the other characters slightly changed. Here...
The book entitled "The Twenty-four Paragons of Filial Piety" was written by the Chinese scholar Guo Jujing during the Yuan Dynasty. The book recounts the extremes to which twenty-four sons and daughters go to honor their elders. This type of print...
courtesans; women; kimonos; hairstyles; hair ornaments; fans (costume accessories); children (people by age group); lanterns (lighting devices); tables (support furniture); porches; men (male humans)
A Yoshiwara Pleasure Quarters courtesan named Takao looks out at the moon and the bird flying by, thinking perhaps of her lover. Her costume and hairstyle closely resemble that the 17th century Takao portrayed by Yoshitoshi in his series "One...
men (male humans); women; children (people by age group); kimonos; flowers (plants); vases; cabinets (case furniture); books; tables (support furniture); works of art
When Lu Ji was six years old, he traveled with his father to visit the Chief Minister of Nan Yang. The minister ordered his servants to bring a dish of oranges to offer to the young boy. Lu Ji secreted the fruit away in the sleeve of his robe. When...
women; children (people by age group); kimonos; fans (costume accessories); oil lamps; fruit; stoves (heating equipment); Single Built Works; tables (support furniture); men (male humans)
Meiji period color woodblock print from the "Parody of 24 Paragons of Filial Piety" series, depicting the dutiful son Gomo eating a pomegranate. Above them Wu Meng has lit a smoking fire to protect his father from mosquitoes.
women; children (people by age group); kimonos; books; clocks; tables (support furniture); cabinets (case furniture); calligraphy
Two girls and their mother are enjoying books. One daughter is kneeling before an open illustrated volume, holding a pointer to help her read. Her sister, standing behind, holds another thread bound book, similar in color to the cover of the one...
The 11th century poet Suo no naishi, whose poem about "That spring night / Haru no yo" is included among the famous "Collection of One Hundred Poets / Hyakunin isshu," is shown encountering a Buddhist nun in the woods.
The 24 Paragons of Filial Piety depict the self-sacrificing behavior of twenty-four sons and daughters who when to extreme lengths to honor their parents, stepparents, grandparents, and in-laws.The upper panel depicts Kan no Buntei, second emperor...
Oto no miya Morinaga (1308-1335) was the third son of Emperor GoDaigo (1288-1339) and closely involved with his father’s efforts to restore political power to the imperial family. However, when Ashikaga Takauji (1305-1358) decided to claim the...
Dressed in fine French fashions, these two ladies and young girl seem to be ready for a stroll in the garden beyond or a visit to the newly modernized shopping area of the Ginza. On the table is a European teapot with matching cup and saucer, In...
schools (organizations); men (male humans); children (people by age group); girls; kimonos; hairstyles; books; tables (support furniture)
In Gakko shaken / "School examinations" two girls dressed in kimono study from a traditional thread bound volume. In the ocular scene, three school teachers dressed in double breasted black suits stand near a table in a Western style classroom...
dolls; tables (support furniture); women; kimonos; hairstyles; hair ornaments; gardens; Built complexes and districts; streams
A group of women stand on the banks of a stream. One pushes a small raft loaded with food and drink across the stream with a pole towards two women who wait to receive it. In the background, houses on pilings line the edges of the steam and a...
women; kimonos; Single Built Works; agricultural land; teakettles; tables (support furniture); stoves (heating equipment)
Several tourists are enjoying the interesting phenomenon of the moon being reflected on the water surface of flooded rice fields in Shinano Province (Nagano Prefecture). This famous view was well-known to travelers and even illustrated by Hiroshige...
dolls; tables (support furniture); women; kimonos; hairstyles; hair ornaments; gardens; Built complexes and districts; streams
A group of women stand on the banks of a stream. One pushes a small raft loaded with food and drink across the stream with a pole towards two women who wait to receive it. In the background, houses on pilings line the edges of the steam and a...
