The Blind Men and the Elephant, by Katsushika Hokusai
Item Information
- Title:
- The Blind Men and the Elephant, by Katsushika Hokusai
- Description:
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The Fable of the Blind Men and the Elephant. Photographed from original in files block print by Katsushika Hokusai. Essay written by Nelson Coon, former Perkins Research Librarian titled "The Blind Men and the Elephant". In any study of the culture of the East it becomes very early apparent, that in the dim past there was considerable interchange of culture and religion, of fact and table, in addition to trade and commerce, between the countries which we now know as India, China, Japan and the Orient. Probably it is true that certain idea[s] and practices grow up independently under a given set of conditions and to this we might ascribe the musical aspects of beggary among [mendicancy] blind people everywhere. On the other hand, things like Fables, are quite often fairly easy to trace and where the same fable is found in different countries it often bears marks of its origin and a basic pattern which persists under changes. This by way of preface to the printing of any English version of a well known story of the Blind Men and the Elephant which is ascribed to India. Various versions of the story utilize Various numbers of men and although the moral of the story is a universal one it has a very good lesson for those who work with and teach the blind, pointing out, as it does, the importance in any use of tactual material with the visually handicapped, how important it is to make things available for observation which can be encompassed by the spread of the arms or make suitable arrangement for getting the whole picture. The illustration, which accompanies this story is a Japanese version drawn by the famous artist Hokusai (1760-1849) and taken from his collected prints in the Mangwa- Vol. 8, in which he increases the number of blind men to eleven. Because of the fact that in Japan (according to a recent book) elephants are rather uncommon we can well believe that this fable in Japan was borrowed from China or India. Poem: "The Blind Men and the Elephant". A Hindoo Fable. By John G. Saxe. It was six men of Indostan, To learning much inclined, Who went to see the elephant, (Though all of them were blind,) That each by observation Might satisfy his mind. The first approached the elephant, And, happening to fall Against his broad and sturdy side, At once began to bawl "God bless me! but the elephant Is very like a wall!" The second, feeling of the tusk, Cried: "Ho! what have we here. So very round, and smooth, and sharp? To me 'tis very clear, This wonder of an elephant Is very like a spear!" The third approached the animal, And, happening to take The squirming trunk within his hands, Thus boldly up he spoke: "I see," quoth he, "the elephant Is very like a snake!" The fourth reached out his eager hand, And felt about the knee: "What most this wondrous beast is like Is very plain," quoth he; "'Tis clear enough the elephant Is very like a tree!" The fifth, who chanced to touch the ear, Said: "E'en the blindest man Can tell what this resembles most: Deny the fact who can, This marvel of an elephant Is very like a fan!" The sixth no sooner had begun About the beast to grope, Than, seizing on the swinging tail That fell within his scope, "I see," quoth he, "the elephant Is very like a rope!" And so these men of Indostan Disputed loud and long, Each in his own opinion Exceeding stiff and strong, Though each was partly in the right And all were in the wrong! So, oft in theologic wars The disputants, I ween, Rail on in utter ignorance Of what each other mean; And prate about an Elephant Not one of them has seen!
- Creator:
- Katsushika, Hokusai, 1760-1849
- Name on Item:
-
Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849)
- Date:
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[ca. 1750–1920]
- Format:
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Prints
- Location:
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Perkins School for the Blind
Samuel P. Hayes Research Library - Collection (local):
-
Blind in Art Collection
- Series:
- Other Depictions of the Blind in Art
- Subjects:
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Blind
Blind in art
- Extent:
- 1 print
- Permalink:
- https://ark.digitalcommonwealth.org/ark:/50959/vx021w775
- Terms of Use:
-
Samuel P. Hayes Research Library, Perkins School for the Blind, Watertown, MA
Contact host institution for more information.
- Accession #:
-
AG129_37_0016
