Advanced Search
Advanced Search

The Great Imperial Thanksgiving Rite: Procession of HIs Majesty the Emperor to the Yukiden Hall (Daijôsai Tennô heika Yukiden dogyo no zu)


「大嘗祭天皇陛下悠紀殿渡御之図」
"The 'Daijosai' The Grand Harvest Festival. Nov., 4th Taisho. (1915)"
Tanaka Ryôzô (Japanese, 1874–1946)
Publisher: Shôbidô (Japanese)
Japanese
Taishô era
1915 (Taishô 4), printed October 20, published October 25

Medium/Technique Color lithograph; ink on paper
Dimensions 40.3 x 54.8 cm (15 7/8 x 21 9/16 in.)
Credit Line Jean S. and Frederic A. Sharf Collection
Accession Number2008.517
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints
In the Daijōsai ritual, the third component of an enthronement, the new emperor introduces himself to the sun goddess Amaterasu and the other Shinto gods by offering them a meal featuring rice grown in sacred fields under his reign. Two special buildings, the Yukiden and the Sukiden, are constructed in the style of prehistoric Japanese palaces, presumably resembling those used by the emperor’s ancestors. The ritual takes place between sunset and sunrise, with a worship service carried out in one hall late at night and in the other in the early hours on the morning. A simpler version of this ritual, known as Niinamesai or Shinjōsai, will be performed in every year of the emperor’s reign to celebrate the annual harvest.

DescriptionThe inscription at upper left, neatly crossed out by either the publisher or an early owner, incorrectly identifies the setting as the Shishinden; it was probably copied verbatim from 2008.520.
Signed Tanaka Ryôzô (artist, printer, and publisher)
田中良三
ProvenancePurchased by Fred Sharf; 2008, given by Fred Sharf to the MFA