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Urashima Approaching the Palace of the Dragon King

Artist Ryuryukyo Shinsai (Japanese, 1764–1823)
Title Urashima Approaching the Palace of the Dragon King
Date 1812
Medium Color woodblock print on paper
Dimensions Sheet: 8 x 6 9/16 in. (20.3 x 16.7 cm)
Credit Line Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University
Accession Number 77.50.64

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About this Work

In the legend of Urashima Tarō, a poor rural fisherman rescues a small turtle, who is actually the daughter of the Dragon King who dwells beneath the ocean. Urashima is portrayed with a monkey on his back. The turtle, represented with a long trailing tail of seaweed, symbolizes longevity—a suitable emblem of good fortune for the New Year.

Poem:

In the spring mist
Carried on the back
Of the immortal turtle
The monkey showman
Hurries to the Dragon’s Palace
—Moji no Sekigaki

The monkey showman
Knows even the white horse waves
Are theater lovers
Rushing to get to
The Dragon’s Palace
—Yomo no Utagaki Magao


Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.

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"Urashima Approaching the Palace of the Dragon King | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=77.50.64