Bijin on a Crane
- Date:
- Not set
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Source:
- Japanese Art Open Database
Description
"Bijin on a Crane" depicts a beautiful woman mounted on a crane — the mythological bird of longevity and good fortune in Japanese culture, associated with the immortals of Taoist legend who rode cranes between the celestial and earthly realms. The composition combines the conventional bijin subject with a supernatural or fantastical element borrowed from Chinese and Japanese mythology, placing the woman in the tradition of celestial beauties and immortal beings rather than ordinary social life. The crane's distinctive form — the long neck, the outstretched wings, the contrast with the woman's graceful figure — created a memorable and symbolically rich compositional pairing.
More Prints by Miyagawa Shuntei
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Wading in a River - 風呂や (1)
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Triptych: Village of Cherry Blossoms, from the series Esteemed Towns and Villages (Tôsei furaku tsû), Meiji period, 1897
Meiji period, 1868-1912
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Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bijin on a Crane was created by Miyagawa Shuntei (宮川春汀) in Not set.
Bijin on a Crane depicts birds & flowers and bijin-ga.