Visit to a Shrine at the Hour of the Ox (Ushi no toki mairi) 1765

Editor: This woodblock print, dating back to around 1765, is by Suzuki Harunobu, and it's called "Visit to a Shrine at the Hour of the Ox." The figure feels both delicate and eerie against the muted background. What symbols are at play here? Curator: Ushi no Toki Mairi – the hour of the Ox – midnight to 2 am. The hour of spirits and the thinning of the veil. Notice the figure. See the down turned candles on her headdress? That associates her with a very specific and still resonant act: ritual cursing at a Shinto shrine. Editor: So, it’s not just a night visit. She's intentionally going at a liminal hour. Why? Curator: Superstition says that if you circle the sacred tree in the shrine grounds, hammering nails into its trunk while cursing your enemy, the curse will come to pass. Her kimono, though elegant, seems almost like a disguise, a public face for something hidden and quite vengeful. This image connects us to a very deep, nearly universal well of fears and beliefs. It's tapping into primal emotions through the performance of a ritual. Editor: So, beyond just seeing a beautiful woman, we’re really looking at an embodiment of potentially destructive feelings made manifest. Curator: Exactly. Consider the persistence of similar rituals across cultures. Why do we reach for symbols and actions, for outward expression, when dealing with inner turmoil or intense desires? It's like we're trying to externalize something, to give it weight and agency in the world. This print encapsulates that ancient impulse. Editor: That's a powerful idea. It makes me think differently about the ongoing role of symbols and imagery in shaping our emotions and beliefs. Curator: Indeed. Images, such as this, are carriers. It reminds us that symbols hold considerable psychological power.