Two Girls Collect New Year's Herbs 1797

Kubo Shunman created this print, “Two Girls Collect New Year’s Herbs,” around 1800 using ink and color on paper. The scene depicts two young women gathering herbs, a New Year’s tradition symbolizing renewal and health. The herbs they collect are not mere plants; they are laden with cultural significance. Consider the pine tree in the background. In Japan, the pine represents longevity and steadfastness, often linked with rituals of purification. This symbol is echoed in ancient Greece, where pine was sacred to Attis, symbolizing rebirth and eternal life. These motifs are not static, but living entities, transformed by time and culture. The act of gathering itself, bending down to collect what the earth offers, evokes a primal connection to nature, reminiscent of archaic harvest festivals. Such images, passed down through generations, tap into a subconscious reservoir of collective memory. The cyclical, non-linear progression of these symbols reveals how cultural memory persists, resurfacing in new forms, constantly reshaped by human experience.