Komagata-dô Temple at Onmaya Embankment (Onmaya-gashi) 1820

This woodblock print by Keisai Eisen depicts the Komagata-dô Temple at Onmaya Embankment. It's the waterfowl that capture our attention—symbols deeply embedded in our collective psyche. Waterfowl, often seen as emblems of marital harmony and fidelity, have traversed artistic landscapes across cultures and epochs. We see them in ancient Egyptian tomb paintings, symbols of the soul’s journey, and in Chinese art, where mandarin ducks signify conjugal bliss. But here, their placid presence juxtaposed against the temple invokes deeper reflections. These birds can transcend their literal forms, becoming potent symbols of transition, bearing traces of cultural memory and expressing intense longing and belonging. Such imagery stirs our subconscious, engaging us in a silent dialogue that transcends time. The cyclical dance of symbols continues. As motifs resurface, they echo the rhythms of our shared human story, revealing the complex interplay between emotion, memory, and artistic expression.