Moral Philosophy Illustrated for Children
(Shingaku osanai
etoki, 心学推絵時)
Publisher: Wakasa-ya Yoichi
1842
The
word “Shingaku” in the series title refers to a form of neo-Confucianism
particularly influential during the
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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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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: Neko to nezumi Moral lesson:
Even natural enemies can be friends Description:
A cat and a mouse sharing a meal |
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Title:
Kanshin
no matakuguri 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: Iro to yoku Moral lesson:
? Description:
Man with a balance |
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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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This is another state of
the above print. |
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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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