Untitled (Figures) 

Ike no Taiga created this ink wash painting of figures in the 18th century. Notice the figure holding a long staff. This is a symbol of authority, commonly seen in depictions of travelers and scholars, and also reappears in many religious artworks. Consider the staff of Moses, which held the power to part the Red Sea, or the bishop's crosier, symbolizing pastoral authority. These staffs are not mere walking aids, but charged symbols of divine or delegated power. In the collective psyche, the staff signifies guidance, protection, and the ability to lead others through both physical and spiritual landscapes. Observe how these symbols echo through time. They resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts, yet maintain their fundamental connection to our shared human experience.