Preparing Seven Herbs on the Seventh Day of the New Year 1798

This print was made by Kubo Shunman, sometime before his death in 1820, using woodblock printing techniques. It depicts two women preparing the traditional seven-herb rice porridge eaten on the seventh day of the New Year in Japan. This custom embodies the values of renewal and health that are so important to Japanese culture. We can see that, beyond the simple scene represented, is the importance of domestic rituals in preserving social cohesion and cultural memory. Shunman produced this work in a period of relative peace and prosperity in Japan, under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate. The print reflects the values of the merchant class, which was becoming increasingly powerful at this time. The prevalence of poetry in the print also illustrates the consolidation of the artistic institutions. The artwork is a valuable resource for understanding the social and cultural history of Japan in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Historians and art enthusiasts alike can gain further insights into the values, beliefs, and practices of this fascinating period.