55 (50) The Sumiyoshi Festival at Tsukudajima 1857

This woodblock print captures the Sumiyoshi Festival at Tsukudajima, by Utagawa Hiroshige. Dominating the scene is a large white banner emblazoned with kanji characters, symbols that are not mere writing but potent carriers of meaning. The characters on the banner invoke the Sumiyoshi deities, gods of the sea, safeguarding travelers and fishermen. These deities are not static figures but rather fluid representations of hope, courage, and protection, deeply rooted in Japan's maritime culture. We can see echoes of similar protective symbols across cultures. Think of the ancient Greek depictions of Poseidon, or the Norse god Njord, all embodiments of humankind's relationship with the sea. These shared motifs speak to a deep, collective desire for safety and prosperity, reflecting our vulnerability to the forces of nature. The kanji, like the Sumiyoshi deities themselves, become a psychological anchor, a visual prayer for safe passage and fortune, engaging us on an subconscious level and embodying the hopes and fears of those who lived by the sea.