The Year of the Rabbit has come hopping around, and here to mark the occasion are some antique bunny-themed nengajō from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston collection. Happy 2011!
Rabbit, 1951 // Snow rabbit, 1927
Sumo-wrestling rabbits, 1927
Rabbit in bed, 1915
Rabbits playing musical instruments, 1927
Rising sun and rabbit, 1915 // Rabbit with pink background, 1951
Rabbits on bicycles, 1904
Rabbits, 1927
Rabbit on boat, 1927
Rabbit holding giant calligraphy brush, 1903
Rabbit, 1951 // Rabbit walking a tightrope, 1927
Rabbit and waves
Rabbit and waves, 1915
Rabbit on boat
Rabbit, 1951 // Rabbit in the moon, 1915
Rabbit and tiger, 1915
Silver rabbits in snow, 1910
Young girl holding a rabbit, 1915
Rabbit carrying vegetables, 1927
Rabbit and turtle, 1911 // Snow rabbit, 1927
Rabbit writing New Year's greeting on screen
mark
I like the way "Rabbit with pink background, 1951" is styled like a Maneki Neko.
[ ]Ryan Hageman
New Years in style.
[ ]Han
Do the Japanese calculate the start of the Year of the Rabbit according to the Gregorian Calendar?
[ ]Charlotte
While I`m not sure if the Year of the Rabbit actually starts on January 1st, they do definitely start a new year then. These cards -called nengajou - will also all be send before a specific date in December, so they can - and will- all arrive on January 1st. They are actually kept apart by the post services to ensure they don`t get delivered before january 1st.
I also haven`t heard of the Japanese celebrating a different date for the start of the Year of the Rabbit, but it may very well be that nobody ever told me.
[ ]Jason
They switched from the Chinese calendar during the Meiji period (19th century). A lot of Japanese holidays and festivals are a month or two (depending on the year) earlier than their Chinese counterparts as a result.
[ ]Smurfswacker
The face on the "rabbit on pink background" looks like a pikachu.
[ ]phannybaws
No, the Year of the Rabbit doesnt start on January 1st.
[ ]Ant
2/3/2011 for the new lunar year. Remember, it doesn't follow the other one. ;)
[ ]augzf
I like the fact image 4 is a dog!
OLOLOL
[ ]Tim
Beautiful. Thanks!
[ ]annelize
Thank you so much for posting these fantastic gems!
[ ]It's almost 3 february.. I wish you a wonderful new year... Blessed by the Rabbit!
a
Great!
[ ]Chef Maven
The New Year (for the Chinese) starts February 3rd, 2011 - for those that need to know...
[ ]Chef Maven
oops for got to mention that these collected images are beautiful - wonderfully crafted - thank you so much for sharing -
[ ]