Comment - A charming image of a strolling beauty, stopped by a crane-kite in front of her right sandal. The kite-line entangling her feet, loose end of the line even behind her. The crane is a symbol of longevity, loyalty, and immortality. The cassette above the beauty's head is framed with lotus buds, and gives the title of the print (王子喬 嘉永頃). It shows Price Takashi (Wang ZiQiao, 王子喬) blowing his Sheng flute, and riding a crane. The Daoist fairy tale tells the story of Prince Takashi (Prince "Jin" in Chinese), the grandson of the Yellow Emperor, riding to the holy Mount SongShan to practice the technique of immortality. Thirty years later, the prince took the white crane to blow his Sheng in the air, and seven days later he drove the crane to the sky.

The title has different readings (Wang ZiQiao, Oshykio). The poem below the blue bokashi shade sky is not read.

Series -  "Ade sugata juroku josen" ("Luscious sixteen female immortals", "艶姿十六女仙"), written in the red cassette upper right margin


Artist - see Biography


Signature -  Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga ( 一勇斎 国芳画), center right, next to the circular double nanushi seal of censors Yoshimura (upper) and Muramatsu (lower) ; Kuniyoshi's red kiri seal below signature


Publisher - Ebisuya Shoshichi (恵比寿屋庄七), Terifuricho seal near lower left margin


Image Size - 37.0 x 24.8cm   (14"9⁄16 x 9"49⁄64)


Condition - single sheet; nishiki-e (cloured woodblock); Vertical ôban (ôban tate-e);