Japanese Prints

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74 Fern represents long life, and happiness in marriage. Its leaves are white on one side and black on the other, which stands for honesty and sincerity. Firefly fireflies symbolise the summer and they have been a metaphor for passionate love in poetry since the 8th century. Their eerie lights are also thought to be the altered form of the souls of soldiers who have died in war. Four Noble Flowers The chrysanthemum, the plum blossom, the orchid, and bamboo. Frog The frog is thought of as good luck for travellers. Images or charms in the shape of frogs were worn during long voyages to assure safety, particularly across water. The Japanese word for frog is “kaeru”, which sounds like the word “return.” Travellers carry a small frog amulet with the intent of returning safely home. Gardenia This flower represents happiness, elegance, and sophistication. Gladioli Gladioli represent preparedness, strength, splendid beauty and love at first sight. Goose The geese on their migration journey during autumn, when the weather begins to turn cold and plants wither for the winter. This suggests the Buddhist idea that everything in life is impermanent, and that all plants and animals are born, reproduce, die, and decay. They are also a chinese emblem of caution. Wild geese normally fly in a straight line. When the line is broken it suggests that there are unusual circumstances beneath them. Heron The heron has the habit of standing perfectly still and is therefore emblematic of Buddhist meditation. Often depicted among lotus leaves, standing on one leg (it never stirs up the mud), it symbolises Buddhist purity. Associated with the black crow, it suggests day and night, good and evil. Hibiscus represents continually rejuvenating youth, beauty and bravery. Hydrangea The hydrangea is a symbol expressing love, gratitude, and enlightenment. It is said that the observer can easily get lost in its abundance of beautiful petals, and thus getting lost in higher thought and reaching enlightenment. due to its versatility, and beauty, the hydrangea makes an excellent thank you gift to an unsung hero in our lives. Iris The collection of 10th century lyrical prose and poems, Tales of ise, recounts how a heartsick lover composed poetry to a wild iris in place of his lost love. Since then the iris has come to symbolise romance and heroism. It is also a potent symbol against evil spirits. Kozuchi (miracle mallet) The Kozuchi is a legendary Japanese hammer, and translates as “Small Magic Hammer” or “Miracle Mallet”. The mallet is very small, and swinging it grants its holder’s wishes. It is a symbol of good fortune. Kuniyoshi, Utagawa (c.1797 - April 14, 1861) Together with Hokusai and Hiroshige, Utagawa Kuniyoshi is known as one of the greatest Japanese printmakers and a master of imaginative design, dominating the Japanese print world of the 19th century. The son of a silk-dyer, Kuniyoshi was initially involved in his father's business as a pattern designer, it is said that as a child he was impressed by ukiy_-e warrior print and by pictures of artisans and commoners depicted in craftsmen manuals, such as those seen in his later works. His early works include a series of prints of kabuki actors and warriors, as well as a series of pictures of beautiful women, known as bijinga, in which he experimented with large textile patterns and light-andshadow effects found in Western art. In the 1820s he was finally accepted into the important ukiy_-e circle, with his first major commission, ‘One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the popular Suikoden’ based on the popular chinese tale, the Shuihu zhuan. Kuniyoshi continued to draw many of his subjects from traditional tales of war, but with an added stress on dreams, ghostly apparitions, omens and superhuman feats, themes which satisfied the public’s interest in the ghoulish, exciting and bizarre. In the 1840s Kuniyoshi’s critical view of the shogunate won him further favour with a politically dissatisfied public through a series of caricature prints in which disguised actors and courtesans were portrayed, at a time when illustrations of courtesans and actors in Ukiy_-e were officially banned. He also produced more naturalistic works of animals, birds and fish, parodies of traditional Japanese and chinese painting, and a series of landscape views incorporating Western shading, perspective and pigments. Later, he experimented radically with composition, magnifying visual elements in the image for a dramatic, exaggerated and quite modern effect, still seen today in Japanese manga illustrations. The fantastic and dynamic prints by Kuniyoshi were brought to the fore in a recent exhibition at the royal Academy and Sotheran’s is very fortunate to have several of his prints in this exhibition.
Henry Sotheran Limited 75 Lantern Japanese lanterns are used to escort the bride at her wedding, and are now symbolic of good luck in marriage. They are also necessary at funeral processions where there must be two or more plain lanterns at the head, even when the funeral is held in day time, in order to lead the spirits because the land of the dead is dark and gloomy. This is why there are so many stone lanterns in shrines. Lily A lily is a plant that is used to help you forget your troubles. It is also known as the bringer of sons so is often given to a woman upon her marriage. Lotus The lotus is a symbol of new birth, the flower of life and one of the eight Buddhist emblems. The Buddha himself is said to have risen from the centre of a lotus blossom. Besides the religious meaning it stands for the symbol of all that is true, good, and beautiful for it rises out of the mud, yet is not contaminated. Maple The maple symbolises the brilliant colours of autumn, and in celebration of this, the Japanese hold parties under the maple leaves, as they do during the cherry blossom season. As the leaves fall, they remind us of the transience of life, and living life for the moment. It is a popular motif on Kimonos. Monkey The monkey is one of the most painted animals in Japanese art. A well-known representation is that of the ‘three mystic monkeys’: 1) Kika-saru, the monkey who is covering his ears with his hands; 2) Mi-saru, the monkey who is covering his eyes with his hands; 3) Iwa-saru, the monkey who is covering his mouth with his hands. Hear no evil, see no evil and speak no evil. Monkeys bring the message of right living to the people. Morning Glory The asagao (morning glory) is a strong symbol in the Japanese culture. Originally brought to Japan around the 10th century from china for medicinal purposes, their lovely flowers have captured the hearts of the Japanese people and have been the inspiration for many Japanese poems. The morning glory flower has become symbolic of summer in Japan and it is still one of the most popular summer garden plants. Nightingale Usually shown together with the plum blossom, it is considered the herald of spring. They also symbolise sweetness and anticipated happiness. Owl A symbol of wisdom. Its image can also be used as a talisman to keep away evil. The nihon-shoki, one of the oldest books on Japanese history and mythology, describes it as a good omen. The Japanese word for owl ‘fukuro’ is also a homophone for ‘no hardship’. Paulownia Also known as the “princess tree”, it was once customary to plant a paulownia tree when a baby girl was born, and then to make it into a dresser as a wedding present for her marriage. paulownia also serves as the emblem of the prime Minister, cabinet and the government. Peacock The creature associated with the Japanese and chinese goddesses of mercy. In the Buddhist tradition, the peacock’s ability to eat poisonous snakes can be understood as a symbol of the transmutation of evil into good. It is also considered the representation of true beauty. Peony As the flower of summer it has always been regarded as a symbol of magnificent wealth, fortune and prosperity to the extent that it is sometimes known as the ‘king of flowers’. The peony has a lush, full, and beautiful bloom suggesting luxury and opulence and has become an emblem of regal power in Japan. rich in colour and beauty, the peony was regarded as the flower of riches and honour, associated with aristocracy and prosperity. The peony is the rose without thorns, and so embodies romance and love, and is regarded as the omen of good fortune and a happy marriage as well. Phoenix The phoenix is usually seen alongside a dragon and symbolises the Empress. It is commonly used as a female symbol. Pine In Japan, the pine tree is considered one of the most beautiful trees. Several pine trees in Japan are over 800 years old. Over time the climate and other natural causes, as well as pruning and trimming, form the picturesque pine tree. It is one of the most auspicious symbols in all Japan of fortune and nobility. The pine is considered sacred, a belief that may stem from ancient Shinto ideas of trees and other plants as representations of divine spirits. In Japan, entrances to houses are often decorated with pine branches to welcome the Gods at new Year; its needle-shaped leaves are believed to have the power of driving away unwanted demons and protecting good fortune. The long-life of this tree and the fact that they are evergreen make them a symbol of strength, longevity and endurance. With the
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Symbolism in Japanese Prints
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Japanese Prints

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