About This Print
One of eight diptych prints from a series of color woodblock educational prints covering various aspects of mechanics issued in 1873 by the Ministry of Education (文部省 Monbushō). This print discusses and demonstrates the principles and practical uses of the axle and wheel.Transcription
Sources: University of Tsukuba Library http://www.tulips.tsukuba.ac.jp/lib/ja/collection/rare-kyoiku-nishikieNote: The below transcription follows the line breaks on the print, includes hiragana either to the left or right of the Kanji on the print and uses the new Kanji character forms.
right side of diptych:
是は輪（わ）
軸（ぢく）共に備る
なり軸に縄（なわ）を
纏（まと）ひ其端（はし）に
重物（おもきもの）を懸（かけ）輪
にも亦縄を繞（めぐ）らし之を回轉（まわす）
すれは重物軸に倚（より）て揚るなり
輪軸多ければ力を省くこと愈
多し其
形状（かたち）種
々あり
輪（わ）なしと雖も軸（ぢく）に柄あるを以て之を
動すときは回轉（まわす）すること輪に異（こと）ならす
left side of diptych:軸上に木梃（てこ）を挿（さしはさ）み之に力を
用ゐ運行（めぐりゆく）すれば労少くして大なる重物をひき上る
なり
Source: all images copied from http://www.tulips.tsukuba.ac.jp/lib/ja/collection/rare-kyoiku-nishikie
Note: the below prints carry a red cartouche reading 宮木宥弌 臧書 and a red stamp stating 寄宮附木 identifying the collector and donator of these prints to the library as Miyaki Yūitsu the chief priest of Jutokuji temple in Takinogawa, Tokyo. Miyaki Yuitsu collected textbooks from schools and temple schools around the time of the Meiji Restoration, while he was a practicing monk. His collection was reported to be a total of more than 20,000 books.
Principles of the lever and its practical applications (three diptychs)
Principles of the pulley and its practical applications (one diptych)
Principles of the wheel and axle and its practical applications (one diptych)
Principles of the inclined plane (slope) and its practical applications (one diptych)
Principles of the wedge and its practical applications (one diptych)
Principles of the screw and its practical applications (one diptych)
Ministry of Education Full-Color Woodblock Prints
The newly formed Ministry of Education issued full-color woodblock prints for childhood and adult education between 1873 and 1885. In addition to prints issued by the Ministry, color woodblock educational prints were also issued by private publishers, such as those of the series Brocade Pictures for Moral Education (錦絵修身談 Nishiki-e shūshindan), a collaborative effort of the artist Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892), his students and the Tokyo publishing house Fukyūsha, issued in 1883 and 1884.
For more information on the color woodblock prints issued by the Ministry of Education see the article Educational Color Woodblock Prints (issued by the Ministry of Education) on this site.
Print Details
| IHL Catalog | #765; #2055 (right sheet only) |
| Title or Description | [Principles and Applications of the] Wheel and Axle 輪軸 rinjiku |
| Series | untitled series on Mechanics |
| Artist | Utagawa Kuniteru II (1830-1874) [attributed to the school of] |
| Signature | unsigned but attributed to the school of Utagawa Kuniteru II |
| Seal of Artist | none |
| Publication Date | 1873 |
| Publisher | Ministry of Education (Monbushō 文部省) note: #765 is missing the Ministry of Education publishing seal which is present on #2055 (shown below) and reading 文部省製本所発行記 [published by Ministry of Education]  |
| Impression | #765: excellent; #2055: excellent |
| Colors | #765: good; #2055: excellent |
| Condition | #765; poor - two halves of diptych joined, extensive worm damage #2055: good - staining; minor wormage |
| Genre | ukiyo-e; kyōiku nishiki-e [full-color educational prints] |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Format | oban diptych |
| H x W Paper | #765: 13 5/8 x 18 5/8 in. (34.6 x 47.3 cm) #2055: 14 3/8 x 9 15/16 in. (36.5 x 25.2 cm) |
| H x W Image | #765: 13 1/2 x 18 in. (34.3 x 45.7 cm) #2055: 13 5/8 x 9 in. (34.6 x 22.9 cm) |
| Literature | |
| Collections This Print | University of Tsukuba library http://www.tulips.tsukuba.ac.jp/lib/ja/collection/rare-kyoiku-nishikie |
last revision:
5/22/2020
1/17/2019 (created)
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