LA FETE DES AMES: Vers Le Soir Les Japonnais Vont Les Recevoir Hors De La Ville,

[Paris 18th Century]. A copper etched pair of prints on a single folio page, sheet size: 24.7 x 38, print size: 20.5 x 15, very clean, excellent impression, plate mark, French titles & captions, clean, faint stain else solid. RARE ! . *** **** *** . . A MID-18TH CENTURY FRENCH COPPER ETCHING OF THE . . . AUGUST OBON-FESTIVAL IN JAPAN . . Circa 1730-50 . * WHAT IS THE OBON-FESTIVAL ? . Obon is an annual Japanese Buddhist festival that commemorates the dead. It is based on a Buddhist text which describes how a devout monk dances with joy upon successfully releasing his deceased mother's spirit from the Realm of Hungry Ghosts. . The Obon [BON] festival is an annual Japanese holiday which commemorates and remembers deceased ancestors. It is believed that their spirits return at this time to visit their relatives. Chochin [paper] lanterns are hung to guide the spirits and Obon dances [BON ODORI] are performed. . A Brief History of Obon Festival. A Buddhist tradition celebrated in Japan in August for over 500 years, Obon is an annual three-day event held in honor of one's ancestors, which sees families get together as the spirits visit household altars. . *** This copper-etched print shows two scenes in Japan depicting the activities and examples of what the Japanese do during the Obon festival. . Translation of the French captions: 1. "LA FETE DES AMES: Vers Le Soir Les Japonnais Vont Les Recevoir Hors De La Ville, Et Leurs Presentent A Manger." English: "THE FESTIVAL OF THE AMES: Towards the evening the Japanese go to receive them out of the city, and present to them to eat." . 2. "Maniere dont ils reconduisent les ames hors de la ville, et prennent conge d'elles le troisieme soir." English: The manner in which they drive their souls out of the city, and take leave of them on the third evening." . *** Color photos are posted to our website. . *** CONDITION: This is an original mid-18th century [i.e. 1730-50's] print, in very good condition. . The strong impression prevents any stain from showing on the font and is therefore of nearly no impact to the images. These stains are mostly limited to the margins, which can be matted out. . There are some very old period damp stains mostly visible on the back side, but rather feint on the front side, in the upper right corner, left margin, and lower margins. By and large the stains do not detract from the images, being faint. . * .