/internal/media/dispatcher/1099243/resize%25253Aformat%25253DthumbnailToru: Making Rice Dumplings in the Twelfth Month (Gokugetsu no mochitsuki), from the series Scenes for the Twelve Correspondences According to the Ise Almanac, Middle Section (Reki chûdan tsukushi, Ise goyomi mitate jûni choku)1847–52 (Kôka 4–Kaei 5)Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III)Ebisuya Shōshichi (Kinshōdō)Vertical ôban; 36.5 x 25 cm (14 3/8 x 9 13/16 in.)Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paperWilliam Sturgis Bigelow Collection11.299420MFA impressions: 11.29942, 11.42546
The Twelve Correspondences (jûni choku), an important feature of Edo-period astrology, were a chronological sequence of days that were considered lucky or unlucky for various activities, calculated according to the orientation of the Big DIpper with respect to the twelve signs of the zodiac (jûnishi). In this series Kunisada associates each of the twelve lucky or unlucky days noted in the almanac with one of the twelve months.
The Twelve Correspondences, with rough translations, are: Tatsu (Building), Nozoku (Eliminating), Mitsu (Full), Taira (Even), Sadan (Distinguishing), Toru (Carrying Out), Yaburu (Overcoming), Ayabu (Dangerous), Naru (Fulfillment), Osan (Gathering), Hiraku (Opening), Tozu (Closing).
In this print, Toru (Carrying Out) refers to the preparations for the New Year celebrations that are carried out in the preceding month.
十二直 建（たつ） 除（のぞく） 満（みつ） 平（たいら） 定（さだん） 執、取（とる） 破（やぶる） 危（あやぶ) 成（なる） 納（おさん） 開（ひらく） 閉（とづ）Prints36.500000000021956301