月波の遊び・「四月中の申の 日山王日吉祭」; 「八月朔日松尾に相撲あり」|Festivities of the Twelve Months: “Sannō Hiyoshi Festivals Held on the Day of the Monkey in the Mid-Fourth Month”; Festivities of the Twelve Months: “Sumō Wrestling at Matsuno’o Shrine during the Hassaku Festival on the First Day of the Eighth Month”

Art Historical Context

These magnificent handscrolls, created by an unknown artist in early 18th-century Japan during the vibrant Edo period (16151868), capture the joyous festivities of the Twelve Months series. Titled *Tsukiyo no Asobi* ("Moonlit Play") with specific scenes of the Sannō Hiyoshi Festivals on the mid-fourth month's "monkey day" and sumo wrestling at Matsuo Shrine on the eighth month's first day (Hassaku), they unfold dynamic processions, rituals, and communal celebrations at sacred Shinto sites. Measuring over 37 feet each, these ink, color, and gold paintings on paper invite viewers to "unroll" the narrative, immersing them in Edo Japan's lively urban and religious life. Handscrolls like these, known as *emakimono*, were a cherished format for storytelling, blending meticulous detail with gold-flecked backgrounds that evoke shimmering moonlight and divine splendor. The scenes teem with men and women in period attire amid grand buildings, highlighting festivals' role in fostering community, seasonal harmony, and Shinto devotion—sumo at Matsuo Shrine, for instance, symbolized strength and purification. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Mary Griggs Burke Collection, these works offer a window into Edo-era cultural exuberance, where art preserved ephemeral rituals for posterity. A true feast for the eyes!