『浅草側いせ暦』　節分の悪霊ばらい『春雨集』　摺物帖 |“Beans for Tossing During Setsubun Exorcism Ceremony,” from the series Ise Calendars for the Asakusa Group (Asakusa-gawa Ise goyomi)From the Spring Rain Collection (Harusame shū), vol. 2

Art Historical Context

This charming woodblock print, *“Beans for Tossing Setsubun Exorc Ceremony,”* from Kubo Shunman’s seriesIse Calendars for Asakusa Group*part of the *Spring Collection*, vol. 2), captures a playful moment from Japan’s Edo period (1615–1868). Created in the 1810s, it depicts roasted soybeans—essential for the Setsubun festival, held at winter’s end to expel evil spirits. Revelers shout “Demons out, fortune in!” while tossing beans, a ritual blending Shinto purification with seasonal renewal. The intimate 8 5/16 x 7 3/8 in. format suits its role as a pocket calendar (*Ise goyomi*), blending practical utility with artistic delight for urban dwellers in Asakusa, Edo’s vibrant entertainment district. Kubo Shunman, a master of *ukiyo-e* (pictures of the floating world), specialized in *surimono*—luxury, privately commissioned prints produced in small editions for poetry circles or New Year’s greetings. Unlike mass-market prints, *surimono* featured refined techniques like subtle color gradations (*bokashi*), metallic pigments, and embossing for texture, elevating everyday motifs like beans amid flowers and leaves into poetic emblems of prosperity. This piece reflects Edo’s literati culture, where art intertwined with haiku and festivals. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s H. O. Havemeyer Collection, it exemplifies how *surimono* preserved ephemeral joys, offering modern viewers a window into Japan’s festive spirit and Shunman’s elegant whimsy.

About the Artist

Kubo Shunman · 1757–1820

Japanese, 1757–1820