Mannen Bridge, Fukagawa (Fukagawa Mannenbashi), No.56 from the series "One Hundred Famous Views of Edo (Meisho Edo hyakkei)"

This turtle, dangling from the post of a bridge, may have been strung up to show that it would soon be set free into the water. Turtles are a delicacy in Japan, but peddlers were known to release some of their catch as a Buddhist ritual to bring good karma. The curious scene has another layer of meaning: Turtles are known for their long lifespan, echoing the name of the pictured bridge, Mannen, which means “10,000 years.”