Monkey in a wedding gown c. 1836

Onishi Chinnen created this ink drawing of a Monkey in a Wedding Gown in Japan in the first half of the 19th century. This image can be read in the context of the Edo period in Japan, a time of strict social hierarchy under the Tokugawa shogunate. Artists found ways to comment on social norms through satire and symbolism. Here, we see a monkey, an animal often associated with imitation and foolishness, dressed in formal wedding attire. Monkeys appear frequently in Japanese folklore, and would have been immediately recognizable cultural signifiers. The juxtaposition of the monkey with the elaborate garments and formal setting satirizes the rigid customs of the time. It suggests a commentary on the sometimes absurd nature of social rituals and the constraints they imposed on individuals. Understanding this work requires exploring the visual language of Edo-period Japan and the institutions that shaped its culture. Research into popular theater, folklore, and sumptuary laws helps to decode the image and reveals its potential subversive meanings.