A series of eleven Japanese whale drawings in ink on paper
Edo period, 1st half 19th century
Anatomical details are written on the drawings, in old Kana script. Kana was developed from the logographic characters of Chinese origin, known in Japan as Kanji (Chinese pronunciation: hànzì). The handwriting does not seem to have been intended for legibility.
Sujiiruka, striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba)
‘Seven-eight feet tall. Its mouth has upper and lower teeth.’
W. 34 x L. 30 cm
Skeleton of a Baleen whale
With a description that mentions the whales’ bones and skeleton.
W. 59.5 x L. 30 cm
Semikujira 脊美鯨, Southern Right whale (Eubalaena australis)
The description mentions the bumps on its head, the blowhole, the fins, the tail fins, its anus and that it has 'teeth' (baleens) in its mouth from top to bottom.
W. 59.5 x L. 30 cm
Nagasukujira 長須鯨, Fin whale (Balaena physalus)
‘A big boy, but not a whale, even if it has a blowhole on its head.’
W. 75 x L. 30 cm
Irukakujira
‘Seven to eight feet tall.’ Unclear what kind of animal this is as the name is not used anymore. However, Iruka is a dolphin and dolphins and whales are relatives. The blowhole of this animal is also mentioned.
W. 39.5 x L. 30 cm
Shachikujira しゃち鯨
Shachi was written 鯱 and is a mythical sea monster. Shachikujira is an orca or a killer whale, the largest member of the dolphin family. The tail can be five to six feet long and on its back it has a raised fin. It grinds its food with its toothy mouth and there is a blowhole on its head.
W. 40 x L. 30 cm
Zatôkujira 座頭鯨, Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
'With lumps on its mouth and lower jaw.'
W. 54 x L. 30 cm
Kokujira 児鯨, Grey whale (Rhachianectes glaucus)
‘With white baleens in its mouth.’
Nowadays written as 小鯨, and kokukujira: 克鯨.
W. 47 x L. 30 cm
Makkôkujira 末鯤鯨, Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus)
‘A whale with dangerous teeth in its mouth.’
Old spelling for 抹香鯨. Konkei 鯤鯨 is a mythical superfish mentioned by Zhuangzi.
W. 53 x L. 30 cm
Kotokujira コト鯨 or Gondôkujira ゴンドウクジラ, the Indian Pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus)
‘A whale with small teeth in its mouth.’
W. 36.5 x L. 30 cm
Ôiokui or 大魚食い, the False Killer Whale, (Pseudorca crassidens)
'The Great Fish Eater', written here in old spelling '大魚くひ', modern spelling: okigondô, or the Black Killer Whale. It has the same teeth in its mouth as a killer whale. Its blowhole is crescent-shaped and on its carpet it has a backward-curved dorsal fin.
W. 40 x L. 30 cm
Anatomical details are written on the drawings, in old Kana script. Kana was developed from the logographic characters of Chinese origin, known in Japan as Kanji (Chinese pronunciation: hànzì). The handwriting does not seem to have been intended for legibility.
Sujiiruka, striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba)
‘Seven-eight feet tall. Its mouth has upper and lower teeth.’
W. 34 x L. 30 cm
Skeleton of a Baleen whale
With a description that mentions the whales’ bones and skeleton.
W. 59.5 x L. 30 cm
Semikujira 脊美鯨, Southern Right whale (Eubalaena australis)
The description mentions the bumps on its head, the blowhole, the fins, the tail fins, its anus and that it has 'teeth' (baleens) in its mouth from top to bottom.
W. 59.5 x L. 30 cm
Nagasukujira 長須鯨, Fin whale (Balaena physalus)
‘A big boy, but not a whale, even if it has a blowhole on its head.’
W. 75 x L. 30 cm
Irukakujira
‘Seven to eight feet tall.’ Unclear what kind of animal this is as the name is not used anymore. However, Iruka is a dolphin and dolphins and whales are relatives. The blowhole of this animal is also mentioned.
W. 39.5 x L. 30 cm
Shachikujira しゃち鯨
Shachi was written 鯱 and is a mythical sea monster. Shachikujira is an orca or a killer whale, the largest member of the dolphin family. The tail can be five to six feet long and on its back it has a raised fin. It grinds its food with its toothy mouth and there is a blowhole on its head.
W. 40 x L. 30 cm
Zatôkujira 座頭鯨, Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae)
'With lumps on its mouth and lower jaw.'
W. 54 x L. 30 cm
Kokujira 児鯨, Grey whale (Rhachianectes glaucus)
‘With white baleens in its mouth.’
Nowadays written as 小鯨, and kokukujira: 克鯨.
W. 47 x L. 30 cm
Makkôkujira 末鯤鯨, Sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus)
‘A whale with dangerous teeth in its mouth.’
Old spelling for 抹香鯨. Konkei 鯤鯨 is a mythical superfish mentioned by Zhuangzi.
W. 53 x L. 30 cm
Kotokujira コト鯨 or Gondôkujira ゴンドウクジラ, the Indian Pilot whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus)
‘A whale with small teeth in its mouth.’
W. 36.5 x L. 30 cm
Ôiokui or 大魚食い, the False Killer Whale, (Pseudorca crassidens)
'The Great Fish Eater', written here in old spelling '大魚くひ', modern spelling: okigondô, or the Black Killer Whale. It has the same teeth in its mouth as a killer whale. Its blowhole is crescent-shaped and on its carpet it has a backward-curved dorsal fin.
W. 40 x L. 30 cm
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