Illustrated Guide to the Ise Pilgrimage (Ise sangÅ« meisho zue), vol. 5, part 1 Possibly 1797 - 1799

Curator: Here we have a page from "Illustrated Guide to the Ise Pilgrimage," volume 5, part 1, by Shitomi Kangetsu. It's a woodblock print, part of a larger series intended to guide pilgrims. Editor: Instantly, it feels like a theatrical scene. A story unfolding with an audience on one side and divine figures on the other. Curator: Precisely. The print captures the blend of sacred journey and communal experience that defined pilgrimages. Consider how mass culture and religious practice intertwined. Editor: It's the roosters that get me, though. They're like stagehands, adding this earthy, unexpected touch to the divine proceedings. It’s wonderfully subversive. Curator: Roosters are sacred animals in Shinto belief. Their presence underscores the natural world’s involvement in sacred spaces. It's about the visualization of a shared spiritual identity. Editor: Even in monochrome, there's a vibrancy here. It's not just documenting a trip; it's capturing the soul of a journey. Curator: Yes, the illustrations speak to the powerful ways religious narratives are disseminated and internalized. Editor: It's more than a map; it's an invitation to experience something profound, one rooster at a time.