Adachi Ginko - “Album of Pictures of the Twelve Signs of the Zodiac” (教育十二支画報, Kyōiku jūnishi gahō) - 1906

Adachi Ginko  (1853-1908)

“Album of Pictures of the Twelve Signs of the Zodiac” (教育十二支画報, Kyōiku jūnishi gahō), 1906

Volume of 12 polychrome woodblock prints 24,5 x 18 cm

Published by Ryokodo (Kenji Narasawa)

Each print Oban: 36 x 24.5cm

Good condition – some foxing and toning to images

The 12 signs of the Zodiac are a popular theme in Japanese and Asian art. Introduced from China in the 6th Century it, remained the main calendar until 1876. According to tradition, the 12 animals of the Zodiac payed homge to Buddah on his death bed, for which Buddah rewarded them by naming the months after each animal.

Each animal is highly associated with symbolism and meaning. The tiger for example is highly important in Japanese and is often depictd in bamboo as a symboil of strength over coming chaos through strength. The dog is a symbol of fidelity and in many stories gives birth to eight puppies which each becomes a courageous warrior

Ginko was a Ukiyo-e artists of the Utagawa school active in the late 19th and early 20th Century. He produced a wide variety of prints and is well known for his images of the Sino-Japanese war.

£1200