Studio: international art (58.1913)

The Dating of Japanese Colour-Prints from 1842

Before coming into possession of these proclama-
tions, I had discovered a few prints with the seals
of the censors, "Murata" and " Kinugasa" and
" Hama" and " Makin." Underneath their names
I had found an oval-shaped seal reading Aratame.
Now the meaning of this combination can only be
"examined by" Murata, Kinugasa, &c. This fact,
together with the subsequent discovery of the pro-
clamation already quoted, by which censors were
appointed, leaves us in no doubt but that these men
were the " Toshiyori " referred to therein. If further
proof be needed, it may be found in the fact that
these Censors' seals are found on prints issued by
different publishers during the prohibited period of
twelve years, thus excluding the possible theory
that the men whose names they contain were in
some way or another connected with the produc-
tion of the prints.

We may now proceed to touch upon the Aratame
round seal, which came into use in this form
during the nth month of 1853, when the Censors
seals were discontinued.

It will be noticed that, from some day in the
nth month of 1853 till the end of 1857, a round
Aratame seal always accompanies an oval or
more rarely a heart-shaped date-seal. Its meaning
is " examined." We may therefore presume
that though the examination of prints by the
" Toshiyori" was discontinued, yet this duty must
have devolved upon some other person, possibly
the publisher himself. However that may be, it is
rather with its use in aiding us to date prints that
we are concerned.

In the Horse year of 1858, the oval date-seal
alone is found. Amongst the numerous prints
testifying to the accuracy of this assertion may

CENSOR'S SEALS.

Names.

Modern. *

FORM.

An eient

FOKM.

Seal.

MUEA

#



©

YOSHI-MTOA



rn t=j

©

MUHA-MAT&V







MTTBA-TA





#

TA-KAKA







1T0UE-HARA

MA



®

rtrxy

•—1—

ft

0

WATARTJ



m

<§>

TVAIAHA-3E







HAMA

n



®

MA-KIN





®

KTNU-GASA







Duodenary Cycle.

A.D.



ZocUical Signs

InteTc8.la.Tj- Mot.



Japanese

Modern.

Ancient

1804 3816 182B
8

1840 l£5i 1864

Rat

Nt

i~

?

ISO!? 1917 18Z9
8

l£il 1953 18S5

1 ir

Ol

Vain





1806 ISIS 1830

T~

1841 1954 nee
7



Tora.





1807 1819 1831

" 4

.18*3 1SS5 I867

Hare

U



t



1808 1820 1832

8 » ir

184* WSSyissi

Drag-on

Tatsu.

IK

I

1809 1SH 1833

1S45 1357 1S69
«■



Mi





5

1810 18*2 1834

~T~
184S 1838 1870
5 To.

W







1811 1823 1835
~T~

1847 1871

Elm







1812 18X4 1836
1S48 1860 J872

Monkey



*



1813 1835 1837
11

1849 1861 ISM

-t "T".

Cock.

Tori

s



18U 18ES 1838
4.

lt$0 1862
8

Dos-

In.u





- £<J*.SLci,
Ma »«m3l

1815

mi

6

1839
1851
lfc63

isjs

Soar

I





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