Silk-Goods Lane, Odenma-cho: #74 from One Hundred Famous Views of Edo

In this print, Hiroshige depicts the formal procession of carpenters that occurred following the ridgepole-raising ceremony for a new building. Led by the chief carpenter, wearing a samurai court cap, and followed by the construction bosses, the parade passes the great dry goods store of Daimaru as it makes its way to a banquet hosted by the new buildings owner. Three ritual implements are carried. First comes a sacred pole adorned with folded-paper gohei surmounting a circle of three fans, an assemblage of womans hair accessories and switch of hair (symbolizing an ancient practice of sacrificing a young maiden at the start of a large building project), and colorful cloth streamers. Following this are two large arrows, for exorcising evil forces: one has the motif of a crane, while the other shows a tortoise, both emblems of longevity.