Traditional Japanese New Year Scenes

Colorful woodblock prints depicting women, a boy, and cultural practices during New Year celebrations, including temple visits and cherry blossom viewings.

Samurai is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. By the end of the 12th century, samurai became almost entirely synonymous with bushi, and the word was closely associated with the middle and upper echelons of the warrior class. The samurai followed a set of rules that came to be known as Bushidō. While they numbered less than ten percent of Japan's population, samurai teachings can still be found today in both everyday life and in martial arts such as Kendō, meaning the way of the sword.

Fresh-water clam. Two women and a boy on New Year's Day on the way to a temple. One of the women holds a bamboo stick to which wrapped gifts hang, the boy is wearing the other side of the stick on his shoulder. From the poem can be deduced that they are on the road to the Tenmangu temple at Kameido, in Edo. With three poems.

Women Viewing Cherry Blossoms at Asukayama, 1780s. Katsukawa Shunchō (Japanese). Color woodblock print; sheet: 25.2 x 20.2 cm (9 15/16 x 7 15/16 in.).

Man with a scroll of writing and a woman in a streak of smoke, from the series: Fashionable invoking the spirit with the incense smoke /Furyu hangonko Utagawa, toyokuni (1769 1825)

The Actors Segawa Kikunojo III as Koito, Sawamura Sojuro III as the monk Sainenbo, and Ichikawa Monnosuke II as the monk Renseibo, in the shosa Mata Saku Hana Museume Dojoji, performed at the Nakamura Theater in the fourth month, 1783 1783 Japan. Color woodblock print; oban

Two Women on a Shrine Visit, 1804 print Two women en route to a shrine, one wears a baby, the other a framed votive print (EMA). On the right a boy with banner. This print refers to the use to visit a shrine in the first 30 days after the birth of a child. With two poems. paper color woodcut nursing, suckling

Three Great Wise Men of the Han Dynasty Yashima Gakutei Japanese 19th century

Samurai is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. By the end of the 12th century, samurai became almost entirely synonymous with bushi, and the word was closely associated with the middle and upper echelons of the warrior class. The samurai followed a set of rules that came to be known as Bushidō. While they numbered less than ten percent of Japan's population, samurai teachings can still be found today in both everyday life and in martial arts such as Kendō, meaning the way of the sword.

Geisha under parasol. A geisha walking to the left. A servant walks behind her and keeps a parasol above her head. In addition to her a girl.

The First Nakamura Tomijuro as an Oiran Standing in a Room 1771 Katsukawa Shunshō　川春章 Japanese. The First Nakamura Tomijuro as an Oiran Standing in a Room 36878

Ogura imitation of the one hundred poems. Soga Gorô as a child with manuscript over his shoulder. Scene from a Kabukite team. Poem by Sarumaru Dayû.

The demon cavity on the Senjō-Ga Dake, sheet 6 from the series: Children play the Heroes Raikō. Donation Gerhard Schack

Carrying a Lantern Decorated with the Flowers of the Four Seasons (Hirakawa-cho Yamamoto-cho shiki no hana mando) from the series The Festival of the Sanno Shrine (Sanno go-sairei) 1780 Japan. Color woodblock print; chuban . Torii Kiyonaga (Publisher)

Monkey Dance ca. 1760 Isoda Koryūsai Japanese. Monkey Dance 54575

Samurai is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. By the end of the 12th century, samurai became almost entirely synonymous with bushi, and the word was closely associated with the middle and upper echelons of the warrior class. The samurai followed a set of rules that came to be known as Bushidō. While they numbered less than ten percent of Japan's population, samurai teachings can still be found today in both everyday life and in martial arts such as Kendō, meaning the way of the sword.

Plum-Seeing Month: Second Month 1735-1790 Isoda Koryūsai Japanese. Plum-Seeing Month: Second Month 57103

The First Nakamura Nakazo as a Man of High Rank Attired in Naga-Bakama ca. 1781 Katsukawa Shunshō　川春章 Japanese. The First Nakamura Nakazo as a Man of High Rank Attired in Naga-Bakama 36838

Carrying a Lantern Decorated with a Pavilion, Gohei, Flowers, and Fan (Sekiguchi-cho Rosoku-cho no banto), from the series The Festival of the Kanda Shrine (Kanda go-sairei) 1774-1784 Japan. Color woodblock print; chuban, nishiki-e . Torii Kiyonaga (Publisher)

September. The Kanda myojin Temple, from the series: Famous views of Toto (Edo) customs throughout the year /Nenjo gioji

Parody of Minamoto no Tametomo 1765 Suzuki Harunobu Japanese In the picture-calendar the cyclical date for 1765 is hidden. Japan's system of cyclical dates for naming years combines the ten celestial stems with the twelve animals of the zodiac. Kinoto tori (the second of the ten stems and the zodiac sign of the rooster) appears on the left side of the warrior's neckband and "Meiwa 2" (1765) is seen on the right. The numerals for the dai, or long, months (2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 10) appear inside the exposed lining of his kimono, while the numerals for the shō, or short, months (1, 4, 7, 9, 11, 12) are reversed in white and disguised as bamboo leaves on the kimono of the woman nearest the screen.. Parody of Minamoto no Tametomo 54181

Standing woman in kimono. Standing woman in kimono, holding a range, with a cloth on a ring on the left.

Visiting the Shrine of Enmei Jizo, from the series Eight Precincts of Kinryuzan Temple in Asakusa (Asakusa Kinruzan hakkei) 1777-1787 Japan. Color woodblock print; chuban . Torii Kiyonaga

The Kabuki Actor Sawamura Sōjūrō III and Courtesans ca. 1783-84 Torii Kiyonaga Japanese. The Kabuki Actor Sawamura Sōjūrō III and Courtesans 56755

Dog: Meguro; Inu - Meguro; Famous places in Edo and the twelve signs of the zodiac; Edo Meisho Mitate Jûnishi. A waitress at a tea house in Meguro advertising for small rice balls (Mochibana). Behind her the steps are visible to the Fudô Hal (Fudôdô) of the Ryûsenji temple. With two poems.

Chief Minamoto no Yoritomo during the a hunt at the foot of Mount Fuji

The actor Nakamura Tomijūrō II as Ryūjo Otohime. Donation Gerhard Schack

The hour of the monkey; Elegant representations of the twelve hours; Furyu Junitoki. Two women and a child walking between flowering trees; Woman with blossom branch in hands looked at around cartouche at the top right, in which a monkey, referring to the time between four and six in the morning; In the background a clock tower of a temple.

The warrior kamekiyo. Kangekiyo warrior, standing at sitting girl with folded hands.

Actors from the NOH theater to Tomonaga; Tomonaga; Play a hundred noh; NUAKU HYAKUBAN. Two actors: on the left a man in the role of Tomonaga, with sword in hand. On the right an actor in the role of the owner of an inn, with white mask, dressed in red kimono. Judge part of dipper.

The actor Nakayama Kikue as Kurtisane Tamaza. Donation Gerhard Schack

Poetry strip with brocade curtain. A black stick hangs a brocade curtain and a ritual hammer. This kind of hammers was hanged at the court on the first day of the new year of the rabbit to evoke evil. On a table a narrow strip of paper to write down poems; A tanzaku. With five poems.

Jurojin and a woman with a pipe Eisen, Keisai (1790 1848)

The Actor Nakamura Nakazo in Shibaraku in Dark Green Robes ca. 1781 Katsukawa Shunshō　川春章 Japanese. The Actor Nakamura Nakazo in Shibaraku in Dark Green Robes 55498

Twenty-Four Japanese examples or Philial Piety for the Honchôren. A boy reads a document while an older man listening to him in the background. With two poems. This print refers to the story of a man who gives birth to the relocated son of the deceased man whom he had bought the country. The collection of sand and pebbles (Shasekishû) is an anthology of 134 humorous Buddhist stories, composed between 1279 and 1283 by the Monnik Mujû (1226-1312).

Samurai Admiring Pine-Tree and Plum Blossoms Ryūryūkyo Shinsai Japanese. Samurai Admiring Pine-Tree and Plum Blossoms 54828

Man and Woman in Court Costume 19th century Unidentified artist. Man and Woman in Court Costume 54835

Man at the entrance of a temple, Utagawa Kunisada (I), 1828 print The actor Bandô Mitsugorô III (1775-1832) in the role of Shigetada, a vassal by Yoritomo. He stands in front of the entrance of the Tôdaiji Temple in Nara, an incident that took place in 1195. This print is a right sheet of a diptych. With one poem. Japan paper color woodcut / polishing portrait of actor, actress. adult man

Instructions for silk balancing leaf 2..

Kabuki Actors Segawa Kikunojō III and Ichikawa Monnosuke II and Two Courtesans Celebrating the New Year ca. 1790s Katsukawa Shunkō Japanese. Kabuki Actors Segawa Kikunojō III and Ichikawa Monnosuke II and Two Courtesans Celebrating the New Year 57070

Scene from Noh Dance ca. 1820 Totoya Hokkei Japanese. Scene from Noh Dance 54360

Three Women at the Base of a Sacred Pine Tree 1785-1795 Japan. Color woodblock print; oban . Katsukawa Shunchô

The Fifth Ichikawa Danjuro as a Samurai Attired in Ceremonial Kamishimo probably 1774 Katsukawa Shunshō　川春章 Japanese. The Fifth Ichikawa Danjuro as a Samurai Attired in Ceremonial Kamishimo 36880

Benzaiten Shrine at Shinobugaoka (Shinobugaoka Benzaiten), from the Fashionable Eight Views of the Eastern Capital (Furyu Toto hakkei) 1819-1834 Japan. Color woodblock print; oban . Kikukawa Eizan

Oiran taking a New Years walk surrounded by two shinzos and two kamuros EISHI, CHOBUNSAI (1756 1829)

The Actor Tohimura Kamezo as a Warrior 1737-1766 Torii Kiyohiro Japanese. The Actor Tohimura Kamezo as a Warrior 57026

Instructions for silk balancing leaf 3..

The Actors Nakamura Nakazo I as Chinzei Hachiro Tametomo Disguised as a Pilgrim (left), and Ichikawa Danjuro V as Kazusa no Gorobei Tadamitsu (right), in the Silent Encounter Scene (Dammari) from the End of Part One of the Play Kitekaeru Nishiki no Wakayaka (Returning Home in Splendor), Performed at the Nakamura Theater from the First Day of the Eleventh Month, 1780 1775-1785 Japan. Color woodblock print; chuban . Katsukawa Shunsho

Scene from the Noh Theater Arashiyama theater; Arashiyama; Play a hundred noh; NUAKU HYAKUBAN. Dancing nooh actor with white wig, turned to the left, impeller in right hand.

Woman Playing on the Shamisen probably 1815 Kubo Shunman Japanese. Woman Playing on the Shamisen 54050

Takuhatsusō to araihari wo suru onna | Library of Congress

An Entertainment at Shinagawa ca. 1788 Sakuragawa Bunkyo Japanese. An Entertainment at Shinagawa 36706

The Geisha To’e as a Vendor of Poems,” from the series Gion Festival Costume Parade (Gion mikoshi arai nerimono sugata) ca. 1795 Utagawa Toyokuni I Japanese The publisher Yamahei (Yamashiroya Sahei) published a series of prints celebrating the Gion Festival Costume Parade, held during the summer in Kyoto, during which geisha from the Gion district dress up in costumes. Various artists, including Toyokuni, contributed designs to the series.. The Geisha To’e as a Vendor of Poems,” from the series Gion Festival Costume Parade (Gion mikoshi arai nerimono sugata) 55397

Ichikawa Danjūrō VII (1791-1859) in the Role of Konoshita Tokichi from the Scene "Mountain Gate" in the Play Yakko Yakko Edo Hanayari 1819 Utagawa Kunisada Japanese This print, one sheet of a triptych, depicts Ichikawa Danjūrō VII holding in one hand an umbrella and in the other a duck, shot with an arrow and clasping a letter in its mouth. Danjūrō wears a kimono with a design of gourds, an emblem of his family since the time when Danjūrō II was given a gourd formerly used by the famous haiku poet Matsuo Bashō to store rice.. Ichikawa Danjūrō VII (1791-1859) in the Role of Konoshita Tokichi from the Scene "Mountain Gate" in the Play Yakko Yakko Edo Hanayari 54176

Mikawa Province Horai Temple in the Mountains (Mikawa, Horaiji sangan), from the series Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces (Rokujuyoshu meisho zue) 1853 Japan. Color woodblock print; oban . Utagawa Hiroshige

Danjurō V as Kakogawa Honzō with a Komuso Hat and a Flageolet Katsukawa Shunshō　川春章 Japanese. Danjurō V as Kakogawa Honzō with a Komuso Hat and a Flageolet 56059

Actor Yamashita Kinsaku II in the role of the Courtisane Agemaki. Courtisane with a long letter in the right hand; On the right a part of an umbrella. Middle leaf of triptych.

The popular hero Sukeroku; Sukeroku; A series of seven prints; Shichiban No Uchi. An actor in the role of Sukeroku stands with a Geisha in training (Shinzô) for a large wooden barrel with extinguishing water. On the barrel, in white, the Japanese sign for 'water' (Mizu), on top of smaller extinguishing inhibitors, and on the shelves the street name 'Edomachi'; The main street of the Yoshiwara. With one poem.

Men dancing to samisen music, from the series Shokoku meibutsu (Famous products of the provinces) colour woodcuts, surimono, works on paper

The Last Three Months of the Year Workshop of Ding Liangxian Chinese. The Last Three Months of the Year 63078

Woman with songbook; The seven bamboo forest bamboo for the Shôfûdai poets' association; Shôfûdai shichiken no uchi.a woman with a songbook. She Probably Says Keiko (Liu Ling in Chinese) for One of the Seven Philosophers. With Two Poems.

The Actor Ichimura Takenojo VIII in the Role of a Puppeteer, showing Puppets to a Courtesan ca. 1715 Torii Kiyomasu I Japanese The scene is probably taken from a play for the Kabuki actor Ichimura Takenojo VII is identified by the crest on his robe. And yet, the sight of a courtesan stopping in the streets of the Yoshiwara in Edo to enjoy the entertainment of an itinerant puppeteer must have been common enough. The courtesan with her obi tied in the front wears a magnigicent long-sleeved robe decorated with plum blossoms, while her two young maids (kamuro) both appear in kimono of striped pattern. In the background are the curtained doorways of two brothels, the Matsuya and the Fujiya.. The Actor Ichimura Takenojo VIII in the Role of a Puppeteer, showing Puppets to a Courtesan 45247

Print ca. 1730 Torii Kiyomasu I Japanese. Print 37135

Instructions for silk balancing leaf 8..

Surimono in shape of small twofold screen Ryūryūkyo Shinsai Japanese. Surimono in shape of small twofold screen 54380

Scene from the Noh Dance "Shojo" 19th century Teisai Hokuba Japanese. Scene from the Noh Dance "Shojo" 54031

The Rashōmon, Leaf 2 from the series: Children play the Heroes Raikō. Donation Gerhard Schack

Kanjo (Court Lady) Seated, and a Tsurikoro Hanging near Her Head ca. 1825 Totoya Hokkei Japanese. Kanjo (Court Lady) Seated, and a Tsurikoro Hanging near Her Head 54318

First water of the new year. A nobleman looks while his servant creates the first water of the new year (Wakamizu) from the Put, behind them a flowering plum blossom. With two poems.

Rokudanme | Library of Congress

Hotei 1616 Kano Takanobu Japanese Hotei, a popular figure in the Zen pantheon, is often depicted as a rotund, good-humored monk carrying a large sack. A semihistorical figure, he is believed to have lived in southern China in the late ninth century and was eventually recognized as a manifestation of Miroku (Sanskrit: Maitreya), Buddha of the Future. The poetic text, from a eulogy for Hotei by the Chinese Daoist Bai Yuchan (1194-1229), was transcribed by Tetsuzan Sōdon, a leading Zen monk-scholar who served as an abbot of the Myōshinji Temple in Kyoto.Hoteis sack encompasses the Great Emptiness. Holding a staff, he tramps around three thousand worlds. Miroku claps his hands, and laughs—ha, ha! The bright moon shines, the wind disappears.. Hotei 73192

Yoshitsune a serenade bringing to Joruri Hime. Yoshitsune, flute playing at garden fence, focused by lanch with lantern, woman with hand watching the mouth; Japanese garden in the background.

Women brushing silkworm eggs from the cards into the feeding trays., 1768, Woodcuts, 9 1/2 x 7 1/2 in. (24.1 x 19.1 cm)

Egoyomi Daikoku 1864 Japan. This is a small egoyomi calendar print on crepe paper. The numbers of the months form the kneeling figure to the bottom left. The god of wealth, Daikoku, is seated on two rice bales and is also formed from numbers and characters.. Color woodblock print; surimono . Naokage

History of Kamakura 19th century Kubo Shunman Japanese. History of Kamakura 54793

Mother and daughter. A woman bites pieces of paper from a long letter, where her daughter then folds crane birds. A kimono is over a rack in the background. With one poem over a young woman folding with her child cranes.

Schauspieler Ichikawa Kodanji IV ALS KATAGIRI SAIZō.

The Goddess Benten Holding a Biwa and a Young Man Holding a Shoulder Drum, from the series Comparing the Smiles of the Lucky Gods (Fukujin egao kurabe) 1785-1789 Japan. Color woodblock print; koban . Katsukawa Shunsho

Three Sumō Wrestlers: Onogawa, Seimiyama, and Yatsugamine ca. 1790s Katsukawa Shunkō Japanese. Three Sumō Wrestlers: Onogawa, Seimiyama, and Yatsugamine 56024

Satsuma no Fukuyorime from the Veritable Records of Emperor Montoku (Satsuma no Fukuyorime, Montoku jitsuroku), from Twenty-four Japanese Paragons of Filial Piety for the Honcho Circle (Honchoren Honcho nijushiko) 1816-1826 Japan. Color woodblock print; shikishiban, surimono . Yashima Gakutei

The Actor Nakamura Utaemon I as a Monk under a Willow Tree 1726-1792 Katsukawa Shunshō　川春章 Japanese. The Actor Nakamura Utaemon I as a Monk under a Willow Tree 56007

Geisha. Unknown

Scene from Noh Dance ca. 1820 Kosetsu Japanese. Scene from Noh Dance 54358

The urin in temple; Urinin; Ten images of famous no-pieces for the Hisakataya poets' association; Hisakataya Jûban No Uchi. Two actors from the play 'The Urin Temple' by a tree. The Urin Temple in Kyoto was a temple in Kyoto. With two poems.

Imayō Dance Performed at the Kimpeirō House in the Yoshiwara District. Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (Japan, 1839-1892). Japan, 1875, April. Prints; woodblocks. Color woodblock print

Double portrait of Iwai KumesaBuro and Iwai Kiyotaro. The actor Iwai Kumesaburo in the role of the Edelman Chikusanosuke, standing with sword, and the actor Iwai Kiyotaro, in woman role as a princess tamakoto, sitting with bundle branches. Scene from the play Hana o Mimasu Yoshino No Miyuki, raised in the Nakamura-Za in 1798.

Seigen en Sakurahime; Seigen daraku no zu.Seigen, the abbot of the Kiyomizudera temple, embraces the kimono of his died Courtisane Sakurahime, who is visible on the upper sheet as a spirit appearance. Vertical dipper.

Preparations for the doll party. Three young women in room overlooking garden with blossoming trees and man on porch of home; Woman in black kimono a tray wearing on peach blossom branches, a reference to the doll party.

The actor Actor Kumaju Hangoro in a black kimono Shun'ei, katsukawa (1762 1819)

Year of the dragon: Ueno Sannō. .

Ichikawa Danjūrō VII as Ishikawa Goemon and Bandō Mitsugorō III as Mashiba Hisayoshi in a Lightning Storm from the Play Sanmon gosan no kiri’ (The Temple Gate and the Paulownia Crest). Utagawa Toyokuni II (Japan, 1777-1835). 1828. Prints; woodblocks. Surimono; color woodblock print with brass, tin, and embossing

An actor in female dress stringing a samisen. Origin: Japan. Period: Edo period. Date: 1615-1868. Ink and color on paper. Museum: Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery.

Visiting Komachi ca. 1779 Torii Kiyonaga Japanese. Visiting Komachi 54658

The Priest Kisen, from the series Six Immortal Poets (Rokkasen) 1784-1790 Japan. Color woodblock print; oban . Chôbunsai Eishi

Saying: Even the Light of the Buddha depends on the money: Rurikō Buddha and the gods live in the head of the honest, from the series: one hundred pictures of Kyōsai. .

Actor Scattering Peas; A Ceremony of Exorcism for the New Year 19th century Kubo Shunman Japanese. Actor Scattering Peas; A Ceremony of Exorcism for the New Year 54013

GOYU, 1906 Female servants attract travelers to get them to their tea houses. On the right a woman watches and a man is already resting. cardboard color woodcut

Hodogaya; The 53 stations of the Tokaido; Tokaido Gojusan Tsugi No Uchi. Woman (Actor Bando Shuka in the okaru woman role) in colorful kimono with different flower patterns, looking aside, against background with face on the stopping place Hodogaya; Travelers on bridge over river with houses along the shore.

The First Nakamura Nakazo as an Unarmed Man Standing Near the Engawa ca. 1775 Katsukawa Shunshō　川春章 Japanese. The First Nakamura Nakazo as an Unarmed Man Standing Near the Engawa 36882

Number one: Temple servant with white horse; Sono Ichi; The spring horse; Harugoma. A female temple teenager with court hat (eboshi) and a kimono on which dingers are depicted for the New Year. She leads a fungus to the reins to a bridge. The horse is a ceremonial New Year's gift for the temple. With two poems.

Reunion at Kiyomizu. 1675 - 1700. Illustrations. Spencer Collection

Japan: Traditional crafts and trades of the 18th century from a hand-painted album by an anonymous artist. Folio 41. Hand-coloured illustration from a Japanese miscellany on traditional trades, crafts and customs in mid-18th century Japan, dated Meiwa Era (1764-1772) Year 6 (c. 1770 CE).

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