Posted by Guy Pepermans on February 04, 2002 at 15:10:41:
In Reply to: Re: Question on "Travellers Crossing the Oi River" from Hokusai posted by John Fiorillo on February 03, 2002 at 22:15:11:
John,
Your explanation which refers solely to the publisher 'Ejiudô' is also found in Matthi Forrer's "Hokusai, Prints and Drawnings", Prestel, Germany, 1991, plate 31.
On the other hand, in "Hokusai and Hiroshige - Great Japanese Prints from the James A. Michener Collection, Honolulu Academy of Arts", The Asian Art museum of San Francisco, 1998, plate 50 by Julia M. White and others - the authors are refering explicitly to the characters 'kotobuki' (happiness, congratulations or long live) in the context of a bridal journey.
Is it possible that this message on the palanquin and on one of the porters back had a double meaning - a) the advertisement for Eijudô and b) a word of blessing for the bride or the future couple?
Guy.