Ukiyo-e Educational Catalog · Record 136141

Songs for an Earthquake

Artist / 作者
不明
Date / 年代
1850-1860
Medium / 技法
浮世絵 / Ukiyo-e / Edo / vam
Digital record / 画像記録
1434 × 2000 px
Source collection / 所蔵元
Victoria and Albert Museum
Published by / 公開者
黒川トウマ
Rights / 権利
Commercial license required
Attribution / 表記
Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Catalog note / 解説

The <i>namazu</i> is an enormous mythical catfish said to live underground in Japan. When angry, it wriggles about, causing earthquakes. A series of what are termed <i>Namazu-e</i> ('Pictures of the Earthquake-fish') were produced anonymously in Japan following the great earthquake of 1855. This print depicts two <i>namazu</i> as wandering musicians playing a <i>samisen</i> (a three-stringed instrument) and a <i>mokugyo</i> gong. The creatures sing about what happens to people caught under different circumstances during an earthquake. Materials: Woodblock print on paper

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