Scenes of the Twelve Months
Original Language Title年中行事図屏風
CultureJapanese
Datesecond half 17th century
MediumSix-panel screen; ink, color and gold on paper (orientation: left in pair)
DimensionsOverall: 42 3/4 × 100 inches (108.59 × 254 cm)
Credit LineGift of John W. Gruber in honor of Laurence Sickman
Object numberF84-89/4
On View
Not on viewCollections
Description7th month: Star Festival (Tanabata matsuri) & Festival of the Dead (Obon)8th month: Great Moon Viewing Festival
9th month: Chrysanthemum Festival
10th month: viewing autumnal maple leaves (momiji gari)
11th month: Fire Festival at the Fushimi Inari Shrine
12th month: welcoming the Kami of the New Year (toshigami)Gallery Label
What do you look forward to each month? These screens celebrate monthly festivals, beginning with the cheer of New Year rendered on the far right. The year continues from right to left, marked by plants that change with the season. In late spring, people gather under wisteria blossoms. They enjoy the cool breeze on the riverboat in the hot summer. And they admire the changing colors of maple leaves in autumn. The journey through the year closes on the far left as two people pound mochi to prepare for the New Year. In the festivals celebrated on this screen, food and rice wine (sake) bring people together.
With John W. Gruber, Dalton, Pennsylvania, by October 1984;
His gift to The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, December 1984
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