МАЭ № 13-34/9

Kiju-iwai ceremony (Celebration of 77th Birthday). Series “the Life of the Japanese”.

Japanese

1820-s

silk textile, Japanese watercolours, ink, Japanese washigami paper, glue

32.4 × 44.2

The list illustrates kiju-iwai ceremony – the celebration of a 77th birthday. An aged man celebrating his jubilee is greeted by his son and daughter-in-law. In front of him we see a ceremonial platter on which a spiny lobster, a symbol of long life is displayed. Another symbol of longevity is a zen pedestal with sculpture of a tortoise and a naganoshi amulet placed into a tokonoma niche.

Ethnographic drawing