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
The Shinto Shrine at Kameido is dedicated to Sugawara Michizane, also known as Kitano Tenjin, who had a great love of plum blossoms, so the grounds are noted for their early spring flowers (a branch of which juts into the composition and extends beyond the pictorial margin). A mother and daughter turn to admire the white blossoms, warmly dressed in layered kimono. The girl carries a bundle of auspicious items hanging from a tree branch, called a "rabbit stick" / u zue. This was a good luck symbol, usually acquired on the "first day of the rabbit" / hatsu u no hi in the new year and included fabric jewel balls, a raincoat (of invisibility), toy money and special "rice balls" / dango.
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.
