Ju, by Yashima Gakutei

An image of Ju. Gakutei, Yashima (Japanese, 1786(?)-1868). Surimono. Colour print from woodblocks, with metallic pigment, circa 1824. Ukiyo-e.. Poetry by Kojuken Shikyo. Notes: From the series Fukurokuju (Happiness, Prosperity and Longevity). This print shows Wo Quan (Akusen in Japanese), an Immortal prominent in legends of the time of the semi-legendary Dangshi (Emperor Yao), who was supposed to have died in 2258 B.C. Akusen was able to levitate and fly; he had a hairy body, lived on pine nuts, and gathered medicinal herbs in the mountains. The emperor is shown being presented with a gift of pine-cones sent by Akusen to increase his lifespan. Pines were traditional symbols of strength and longevity and therefore made suitable subjects for New Year surimono. The poem reads: ‘Will the man of the mountains wait to present his pine nuts until the first voice of the warbler rises in the spring sky?’

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Ju. Gakutei, Yashima (Japanese, 1786(?)-1868). Surimono. Colour print from woodblocks, with metallic pigment, circa 1824. Ukiyo-e.. Poetry by Kojuken Shikyo. Notes: From the series Fukurokuju (Happiness, Prosperity and Longevity). This print shows Wo Quan (Akusen in Japanese), an Immortal prominent in legends of the time of the semi-legendary Dangshi (Emperor Yao), who was supposed to have died in 2258 B.C. Akusen was able to levitate and fly; he had a hairy body, lived on pine nuts, and gathered medicinal herbs in the mountains. The emperor is shown being presented with a gift of pine-cones sent by Akusen to increase his lifespan. Pines were traditional symbols of strength and longevity and therefore made suitable subjects for New Year surimono. The poem reads: ‘Will the man of the mountains wait to present his pine nuts until the first voice of the warbler rises in the spring sky?’

Image data

Accession Number: P.308-1937
Photograph copyright © The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
Aperture: f/20.0
Focal length: 120
Camera: Hasselblad H4D-31
Photographer name: Sam Cole
Image height: 1025 pixels
Image width: 911 pixels
Processed with: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.0 (Windows)
Filesize: 1.20MB
Exposure time: 1/250
ISO Speed: 100
Fnumber: 20/1
Captured: 2017:09:04 09:48:20

Key words

19th Century Akusen attendants colour printing court Edo Period emperor Fitz_PDP Gakutei gifts immortal immortality Japan Japanese male metallic pigment pigment pine cones pine trees poem poetry poets print surimono trees ukiyo-e Wo Quan woodblock woodcut Yashima Gakutei

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            "Ju, by Yashima Gakutei"
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