Urashima Taro Riding a Giant Turtle
1887
About this artwork
A Japanese woodblock print from the series Gekkō Zuihitsu depicting the folklore hero Urashima Taro riding on the back of a large sea turtle. The work features delicate line work and color blocking characteristic of the Meiji period.
Did you know?
This print illustrates the classic Japanese folktale of Urashima Taro, a fisherman who saves a turtle and is rewarded with a journey to the Dragon Palace under the sea. Upon his return, he discovers that hundreds of years have passed in the human world, a narrative trope that parallels the concept of time dilation found in modern physics.
Know the artwork. Knowing its title and artist turns a beautiful image into a story worth sharing — with a museum label:
Urashima Taro Riding a Giant Turtle
Gekkō Ogata, 1887
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