DISCOVERART

Tanaka Shutei

Rice-Pounding Rabbit

1855
Color woodblock print; surimono
23.4 × 17.6 cm (9.2 × 6.9 in)

SEE IT IN PERSON

Not currently on view

In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026

View at artic.edu ↗Plan a visit ↗

Discussion

FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

This humorous scene of a rabbit pounding a mochi rice cake in a Chinese-style urn represents a sophisticated layering of narrative and pictorial traditions. In East Asian lore, rice cake–pounding rabbits are said to live on the surface of the moon. The artist Tanaka Shutei, an active printer and print designer in Osaka, also referenced a scene from the popular story of Kaguya Hime. He depicted Kaguya, a princess from the moon, in her lunar palace, peeking at the work of the rabbit. The rabbit heralded the arrival of both the year of the rabbit and the New Year in general, as rice cake pounding is an important activity at that time of year.

Source ↗

Be the first to share your thoughts.

Sign in to join the discussion.

Community guidelines

More by Tanaka Shutei

Longevity symbolsLongevity symbolsParrot and BellsParrot and BellsParrot and BellsParrot and BellsParrot and FansParrot and FansIncense Burner. Chrysanthemums, and CamelliasIncense Burner. Chrysanthemums, and Camellias

More like this

Snake (Mi), from the series "Parody of the Twelve Signs of the Zodiac (Mitate juni shi)"Hotei Gosei — Snake (Mi), from the series "Parody of the TweMan and Woman at a Household Shrine, for the New Year of DragonTeisai Hokuba — Man and Woman at a Household Shrine, for theDouble-page Illustration from Vol. 2 of "Picture Book of Spring Brocades (Ehon haru no nishiki)"Suzuki Harunobu — Double-page Illustration from Vol. 2 of "PParody of the play "Musume Dojoji"Katsushika Hokusai — Parody of the play "Musume Dojoji"ArtworkUtagawa KuninaoZhuangzi (Japanese: Soshi), from the series "Shunshoku ressenkyo"Teisai Hokuba — Zhuangzi (Japanese: Soshi), from the series Young woman holding poem slipUtagawa Toyohiro — Young woman holding poem slipArtworkRyūryūkyo ShinsaiA Couple in the BedroomUtagawa Kuniyasu — A Couple in the BedroomEmpress Komyo (Komyoko), from the series "Three Beautiful Women (San bijin)"Ryuryukyo Shinsai — Empress Komyo (Komyoko), from the seriesArtworkKubo ShunmanComb Rashomon (Sashigushi Rashomon), no. 3 from a series of 12 prints depicting parodies of playsOkumura Masanobu — Comb Rashomon (Sashigushi Rashomon), no.