Tsuru, by Yashima Gakutei

An image of Tsuru. Gakutei, Yashima (Japanese, 1786(?)-1868). Surimono. Colour print from woodblocks, with metallic pigment and blind embossing (karazuri). Shikishi-ban. Signed: Gakutei. Poetry by Kinkokuen Mahiro and Mammansai Managa, circa 1820. Ukiyo-e. Notes: From the series of two Spring kyôka surimono entitled Tsurukame niban (Two designs of cranes and turtles) commissioned by Kinkokuen Mahiro and Mammansai Managa. The crane and the turtle are the most common Japanese symbols for longevity: a poem on the accompanying print of Turtles (not exhibited) reads: The cranes’ wings are strong for a thousand years; the turtles, different by far, live for ten thousand. The crane was often combined with two other auspicious symbols, the rising sun and the pine tree, to celebrate the arrival of the New Year or the birthday of an elderly person. As the same two poets feature on the Turtles print, the pair may have been commissioned to celebrate the poets’ enduring friendship throughout their long lives.

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Tsuru. Gakutei, Yashima (Japanese, 1786(?)-1868). Surimono. Colour print from woodblocks, with metallic pigment and blind embossing (karazuri). Shikishi-ban. Signed: Gakutei. Poetry by Kinkokuen Mahiro and Mammansai Managa, circa 1820. Ukiyo-e. Notes: From the series of two Spring kyôka surimono entitled Tsurukame niban (Two designs of cranes and turtles) commissioned by Kinkokuen Mahiro and Mammansai Managa. The crane and the turtle are the most common Japanese symbols for longevity: a poem on the accompanying print of Turtles (not exhibited) reads: The cranes’ wings are strong for a thousand years; the turtles, different by far, live for ten thousand. The crane was often combined with two other auspicious symbols, the rising sun and the pine tree, to celebrate the arrival of the New Year or the birthday of an elderly person. As the same two poets feature on the Turtles print, the pair may have been commissioned to celebrate the poets’ enduring friendship throughout their long lives.

Image data

Accession Number: P.273-1937
Photograph copyright © The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
Aperture: f/22.0
Focal length: 120
Camera: Hasselblad H4D-31
Photographer name: Sam Cole
Image height: 1024 pixels
Image width: 901 pixels
Processed with: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.0 (Windows)
Filesize: 838.92kB
Exposure time: 1/125
ISO Speed: 100
Fnumber: 22/1
Captured: 2017:07:24 10:00:44

Key words

19th Century birds blind embossing colour printing crane cranes Edo Period embossed embossing Fitz_PDP Gakutei Japan Japanese karazuri metallic pigment pigment pine trees pines poem poetry poets print Shikishiban surimono trees ukiyo-e woodblock woodcut Yashima Gakutei

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            The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025)
            "Tsuru, by Yashima Gakutei"
            Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/image/media-2460053669 Accessed: 2025-12-18 06:44:42

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            {{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/image/media-2460053669
            |title=Tsuru, by Yashima Gakutei
            |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-18 06:44:42|publisher=The
            University of Cambridge}}

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        <img src="https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/imagestore/pdp/pdp82/P_273_1937_1_201707_sjc288_dc2.jpg"
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        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Tsuru, by Yashima Gakutei</figcaption>
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