The contents of this item, including all images and text, are for personal, educational, and non-commercial use only. The contents of this item may not be reproduced in any form without the express permission of Scripps College. Any form of image reproduction, transmission, display, or storage in any retrieval system is prohibited without the written consent of Scripps College and other copyright holders. Scripps College retains all rights, including copyright, in data, images, documentation, text and other information contained in these files. For permissions, please contact: Scripps College, Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery Attn: Rights and Reproductions, 1030 Columbia Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711
Description
In the 11th month, the Tori no Ichi Festival is held at the Hanamata Washi Daimyojin Shinto Shrine of the Buddhist temple of Chokoku-ji. An important image at the temple, popular with actors and courtesans, depicts Myoken, Bodhisattva of the North Pole Star, standing on an eagle / washi. Myoken was thought to protect the nation and increase one's lifespan. Chokoku-ji was located in the rice fields / denpo of Asakusa, just west of the Shin-Yoshiwara licensed pleasure quarters, and the temple gates facing the brothels were specially opened on festival days. During the Tori no Ichi Festival, pilgrims like to buy a bamboo rake in the shape of a bear paw / kumade in order to "rake in" prosperity; often these kumade are decorated with a mask of Okame/ Otafuku, whose plump face is associated with abundance, and with a measuring box / masu for gathering up wealth. In this print the man in a brown jacket / haori is carrying a large ornamented rake, and the woman in a black overcoat holds a paper card with kumade hairpins.
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.
