JF Ptak Science Books Quick Post [A part of the Strange Things in the Sky series.]
“… Living only for the moment, turning our full attention to the pleasures of the moon, the snow, the cherry blossoms and the maple leaves; singing songs, drinking wine, diverting ourselves in just floating, floating; … refusing to be disheartened, like a gourd floating along with the river current: this is what we call the floating world..”.–Asai Ryōi, in his Ukiyo monogatari “Tales of the Floating World”, c. 1661
Unfortunately I have lost (!) the reference for this image, but my guess is that it is definitely English and that it comes at the times of the Civil War(s) of 1642-1651. This image below shows the hanging of some poor fellow–and though it seems to be a crown (?) that the man is wearing I can’t imagine who the royal person would be do be executed in such a manner. It seems to me that the mode of execution was beheading (as with Charles I) and also by firing squad, and I just don’t know who was hanged. In any event, I’m after the weird, removal bits from the image more than what it says to us from history. And the out-of-context item hjere of course are the “floating” trees:
