Ise Calendar Selection, Dedication of the 12 signs of the zodiac, The first banner in Satsuki (the fifth month of lunar calendar), Collection of Inscriptions on the middle row of Calendar(Isegoyomi Mitate Jūnichoku Tatsu Satsuki Hatsu-Nobori Koyomi Chūdan Dukushi)
Painted by Utagawa Toyokuni III Around 1847-1848 (Kōka 4-Kaei 1) Tokyo Shiryō Collection 0763-C5

Mention the fifth day of the fifth month and the seasonal festival of Tango comes to mind. In the small framed illustration is depicted a flying carp and banner, an essential part of this day, and in the center is depicted two women gazing upon a beautiful sea bream which are always used in the celebration.


The Tango Festival in the Edo period was initially celebrated mainly among samurai households but later, trademen's families came to celebrate the growth of boys with banners put outside their houses and the boys dolls displayed.
The custom of flying carp banners as depicted in the small framed illustration came into being in the late Edo period. As the brightly colored carps of today were not seen as much back then, many were faux black carps and it was a luxurious custom only available to the wealthy townspeople.
The sword depicted behind the woman is known as the iris sword. While children attached an iris to their belts like a sword in the old days, in the Edo period, wooden swords wrapped in an iris leaves on the haft and colored in gold and silver used as an ornament were worn.

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