In Japanese folklore, the Takarabune (宝船), or "Treasure Ship", is a mythical ship piloted through the heavens by the Seven Lucky Gods during the first three days of the New Year. A picture of the ship forms an essential part of traditional Japanese New Year celebrations.
Coloured woodblock print (ukiyo-e) of the Takarabune by Utagawa Hiroshige.Inro with Takarabune, by Kajikawa Bunryūsai, Edo period, 19th centuryJapanese suiseki stone representing Takarabune.
During the first three days of the New Year the Seven Lucky Gods are said to pilot through the heavens and into human ports a mythical ship called the Takarabune, or "Treasure Ship". The gods carry with them takaramono (宝物), or treasure things, including the hat of invisibility (隠れ笠, kakuregasa), rolls of brocade (織物, orimono), the inexhaustible purse (金袋kanebukuro), the secret keys to the treasure shed of the gods (鍵kagi), the scrolls of books of wisdom and life (巻き物makimono), the magic mallet (小槌kozuchi), the lucky raincoat (隠れ蓑, kakuremino), the robe of fairy feathers (羽衣, hagoromo), and the bag of fortune (布袋nunobukuro).[1]
Woodblock printsedit
A picture of the ship forms an essential part of traditional Japanese New Year celebrations.[2] According to custom, placing a Takarabunewoodblock print beneath a pillow on the night of 2 January may induce a lucky dream – a sign that the year to come will be fortunate. In the event of an unpleasant dream, the print may be disposed of by throwing it into a river.[3]
The custom of putting a picture under the pillow started around the Muromachi period. It was initially popular among the nobility, and spread to commoners during the later Edo period. Street vendors sold cheap woodblock prints, intended for single use.[3]
Many Takarabune prints show a crane above and a turtle below, representative of longevity and felicity,[4] as well as a palindromic poem which tells of a long night in a boat.[3] At dawn, the sound of waves is heard and smooth sailing seen ahead.[3]
See alsoedit
Hatsuyume, the first dream of a new year according to Japanese folklore
^Chiba, Reiko (1966). The Seven Lucky Gods of Japan. Charles E. Tuttle Co. pp. 9–10. OCLC 40117755.
^"The Treasure Ship". V&A. Retrieved 3 January 2018.
^ abcdElizabeth, Kiritani (1995). "Dreams of Revenge". Vanishing Japan: Traditions, Crafts & Culture. New York: Tuttle Pub. ISBN9781462904273. OCLC 777374916.
^Ashkenazi, Michael (2003). Handbook of Japanese Mythology. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. pp. 266. ISBN1576074676. OCLC 52086161.
October 28, 2023
takarabune, japanese, folklore, 宝船, treasure, ship, mythical, ship, piloted, through, heavens, seven, lucky, gods, during, first, three, days, year, picture, ship, forms, essential, part, traditional, japanese, year, celebrations, coloured, woodblock, print, u. In Japanese folklore the Takarabune 宝船 or Treasure Ship is a mythical ship piloted through the heavens by the Seven Lucky Gods during the first three days of the New Year A picture of the ship forms an essential part of traditional Japanese New Year celebrations Coloured woodblock print ukiyo e of the Takarabune by Utagawa Hiroshige Inro with Takarabune by Kajikawa Bunryusai Edo period 19th century Japanese suiseki stone representing Takarabune Contents 1 The ship 2 Woodblock prints 3 See also 4 ReferencesThe ship editDuring the first three days of the New Year the Seven Lucky Gods are said to pilot through the heavens and into human ports a mythical ship called the Takarabune or Treasure Ship The gods carry with them takaramono 宝物 or treasure things including the hat of invisibility 隠れ笠 kakuregasa rolls of brocade 織物 orimono the inexhaustible purse 金袋 kanebukuro the secret keys to the treasure shed of the gods 鍵 kagi the scrolls of books of wisdom and life 巻き物 makimono the magic mallet 小槌 kozuchi the lucky raincoat 隠れ蓑 kakuremino the robe of fairy feathers 羽衣 hagoromo and the bag of fortune 布袋 nunobukuro 1 Woodblock prints editA picture of the ship forms an essential part of traditional Japanese New Year celebrations 2 According to custom placing a Takarabune woodblock print beneath a pillow on the night of 2 January may induce a lucky dream a sign that the year to come will be fortunate In the event of an unpleasant dream the print may be disposed of by throwing it into a river 3 The custom of putting a picture under the pillow started around the Muromachi period It was initially popular among the nobility and spread to commoners during the later Edo period Street vendors sold cheap woodblock prints intended for single use 3 Many Takarabune prints show a crane above and a turtle below representative of longevity and felicity 4 as well as a palindromic poem which tells of a long night in a boat 3 At dawn the sound of waves is heard and smooth sailing seen ahead 3 See also editHatsuyume the first dream of a new year according to Japanese folklore Argo a ship from the Greek mythology Prydwen the legendary ship of King Arthur Flying Dutchman a legendary ghost ship Mendam Berahi a legendary ship of Malacca SultanateReferences edit Chiba Reiko 1966 The Seven Lucky Gods of Japan Charles E Tuttle Co pp 9 10 OCLC 40117755 The Treasure Ship V amp A Retrieved 3 January 2018 a b c d Elizabeth Kiritani 1995 Dreams of Revenge Vanishing Japan Traditions Crafts amp Culture New York Tuttle Pub ISBN 9781462904273 OCLC 777374916 Ashkenazi Michael 2003 Handbook of Japanese Mythology Santa Barbara Calif ABC CLIO pp 266 ISBN 1576074676 OCLC 52086161 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Takarabune amp oldid 1178208865, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
