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Takasago

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Takasago

late 19th - early 20th century

Tsuji Kako

Japanese, 1870 - 1931

Known together as Jotomba, this devoted elderly pair is a symbol of marital harmony and long life. Portrayed under the legendary Takasago pine, the old woman is using a broom to sweep away trouble, while her husband carries a rake to bring in good fortune. In Japanese, the word for sweep (haku) is homophonous with "100 years" (hyaku) and rake (kumade) sounds like "until 99 years," thus creating a pictorial pun of sorts. At Japanese weddings, the Takasago song is recited and Takasago figurines are put on a special shelf to invoke a long and fruitful married life for the newlyweds.

Ink and colors on silk
50 1/2 x 19 11/16in. (128.3 x 50cm)
Gift of Griffith and Patricia Way, in honor of the 75th Anniversary of the Seattle Art Museum
2010.41.96
location
Not currently on view

Resources

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Asian Art Museum, "Live Long and Prosper: Auspicious Motifs in East Asian Art", May 23, 2009 - February 21, 2010

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