Japanese Prints

76
Japanese plum and bamboo, the pine is counted as one of the most
auspicious plants in Japan. considered to be the most aristocratic
of all trees, the imperial gardens of Japan are full of pines. In fact
the pine is the only tree in Japan with an official title: goko no taifu.
Befitting its status, the samurai as well as other nobles and
aristocrats commissioned artists to paint pine trees as a means of
wishing for long-life and auspiciousness.
Plum blossom
Symbolic of purity and nobility due to its enriched smell and elegant
appearance. In the cold winter snow, the plum blossom grows new
flowers from seemingly dead branches. The depiction of a five petal
blossom represents new life at the end of winter and is highly
revered as an auspicious symbol in Japan.
Rabbit
The white rabbit is associated with the moon. According to Indian
legend it is said that Buddha would have been reincarnated as a hare
in order to sacrifice himself as food for the Hindu God “Indra”. As
a reward the rabbit was immortalised in the moon.
Racquet
The racquet is used traditionally in games played during the new
Year festivities. It symbolises good health and fortune as well as
helping to drive away evil spirits from children.
Sacred Shinto rope
The shimenawa is a sacred rope that is hung before a Shinto shrine,
over the entrance gate to a dwelling-house or round a place which
is considered sacred or has to be kept sacred. According to Shinto
belief, no evil can pass beyond the line of the shimenawa.
Shachihoko
fish shaped ornaments known as Shachi or Shachihoko were
frequently used as roof ornaments in the Edo period (1600-1868)
and found atop castles, tower gates, and samurai homes. These
ornaments are placed at both ends of the main roof ridge, with the
male Shachi placed on the left and the female Shachi on the right.
The creatures are thought to provide protection against fire, as they
are attributed with the power to control rain.
Sword
Many Buddhist or Shinto gods in Japanese mythology exhibit
swords to show their ability to cut through ignorance and evil.
Tiger
In Japan the tiger was a beast as mythical as the dragon. In art it
was drawn in accordance with the drawings handed down by the
old chinese artists. The tiger represents the west and autumn (as a
zodiacal sign it represents summer). It is symbolic of the Yang male
principle in nature. Tigers are often depicted between the bamboos,
a Buddhist symbol of the weak protecting the strong.
Torii Gate
Torii gates mark the sites of sacred places for both Buddhist and
Shinto shrines. They are symbols of sanctity, purification and mark
the borders between the temporal and spiritual realms.
Umbrella
The umbrella is a traditional Asian symbol of both protection and
royalty. The ability to protect oneself against inclement weather has
always been a symbol of status. In Oriental thought, the fact that
the umbrella protected the bearer from the scorching heat of the sun
was transferred into the religious sphere as a “protection against the
heat of defilements.” The coolness of its shade symbolizes
protection from the heat of suffering, desire, and other spiritually
harmful forces.
Willow
The Ainu people of the Japanese island of Hokkaido believed that
the willow was their ancestor tree. They thought that the human
backbone was originally made of willow wood, and special willow
fetishes were given to children as guardian spirits. The willow in
Japan is also a good luck symbol as well as a representation of
elegant, graceful beauty.
Wisteria
In ancient Japan, the colour of the wisteria was reserved only for
the aristocracy. It symbolised long -life as well as marital harmony.
Sparrow
The sparrow is a traditional symbol of happiness. Associated with
bamboo, the two symbols are often shown together to depict
friendship.