Moral Philosophy Illustrated for Children
(Shingaku osana etoki, 心学推絵時)
Publisher: Wakasa-ya Yoichi
1842
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The
word “shingaku”
in the series title refers to a form of neo-Confucianism particularly
influential during the Edo period.
This series is listed as number 115 in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum,
London, 1961). The prints in this
series are each about 14 by 5 inches (36 by 13 centimeters), a size known as chûtanzakuban. For a chûban
series having the same title see Moral
Philosophy Illustrated for Children. |
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Title: Hana kurabe Moral lesson: Don’t be
conceited Description: An elephant
catching a flying tengu in mid-air NOTE: Tengu are forest-dwelling creatures
that are either human-like with wings and long noses or bird-like. |
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Another state of the above design |
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Title: Oni no nenbutsu Moral
lesson: However bad you may be to start with, you can work you way up if you will go about like this little folk-art
creature with a subscription-list and a drum calling upon the name of Buddha Description: An oni with
umbrella disguised as a priest begging for money NOTE: Oni are demons with long nails, wild
hair, two horns and a fierce expression. |
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The above print is actually an image of a folk painting of an oni. These traditional folk paints were sold to
travelers in Ôtsu, on |
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Title: Cat and Mouse
(Neko to nezumi, 猫と鼠) Moral lesson: Even natural
enemies can be friends Description: A cat and a
mouse sharing a meal |
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Another state of the above design |
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Title: Kanshin
no matakuguri (韓信の股くぐり, The Humility of Kanshin) Moral lesson: A lesson in
forbearance Description: Kanshin (Han
Sin in Chinese) suffering the humiliation of crawling between the legs of
ruffians |
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Title: Kami no megumi Moral lesson: If we bless
the Lord and respect parents we will get
money, home and a good job Description: Ebisu, the
god of good fortune |
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Title: Daikoku to Fukurokuju
no sumô Moral lesson: There is no
victory in fighting Description: Fukurokuju (the god of wisdom with an elongated head) and
Jurojin (the god of longevity) wrestling |
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Title: Lust (欲) and Desire (色) (Iro to yoku) Moral lesson: ? Description: Man with a
balance |
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Another state of the above design |
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Title: Irori no nabe Moral lesson: ? Description: Old man
cooking with a boy watching |
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Title: No Matter
What You Do Someone Will Hear and Talk (Kabe
ni mimi ari) Moral lesson: No matter
what you do, somebody will hear and talk Description: A man with a
big ear and a big mouth above him |
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Another state of the above design |
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Title: Falsehood and
truth (Uso to makoto) Moral lesson: Be truthful Description: A peasant
collapsing at the thought of truth personified. The kanji
in the face of the monk-like figure in pink is makoto (誠), meaning truth or sincerity,
and the kanji in the faces of the
small figures (虚) means
falsehood. Information courtesy of Dr. Gerhard Bierwirth |
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This series of prints is unusual in that the series title, 心学推絵時, is written in
different scripts—sometimes in a rectangular cartouche and sometimes without
a cartouche. Here are six examples of
ways the title of this series may appear.
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