• Jurōjin (寿老人) with a Deer: Jurōjin is one of Japan’s Seven Gods of Fortune (Shichifukujin) and specifically the deity of longevity . He is typically depicted as an elderly, white-bearded sage with a high cranium, holding a scroll of wisdom or longevity. In paintings, Jurōjin is often accompanied by a deer, which is a traditional symbol of a long life. The deer – especially the stag – was believed in Chinese and Japanese lore to live to a great age and is said to be a messenger of the Daoist immortals.

According to iconographic sources, “the deer, a symbol of longevity, usually (but not always) accompanies [Jurōjin] as a messenger, as do other long-lived animals such as the crane and the tortoise” . In many images Jurōjin may also be shown with a scroll on his staff and a fan, indicating wisdom and long life. (In some traditions Jurōjin is closely linked or even conflated with Fukurokuju, another god of longevity – both share similar attributes and companions).
The presence of the deer in Osanobu’s scroll reinforces the theme of extended lifespan and virtuous old age. Deer were also sacred in Shintō belief (messengers of the gods in Nara), adding an extra layer of auspiciousness.
• Red-Crowned Crane beneath a Pine Tree (松鶴): The combination of pine tree (matsu) and crane (tsuru) is a classic East Asian emblem of longevity and nobility. In Japan, it was said “cranes live for 1,000 years,” and they became potent symbols of longevity in art and literature .
The red-crowned crane (Grus japonensis), often depicted in pairs or beneath pines, embodies grace, fidelity, and long life. The pine tree, an evergreen that endures through winter, likewise represents endurance, steadfastness, and longevity – it remains green year-round and can live for centuries . A saying in Japanese culture holds that just as the pine doesn’t wither with the seasons, so too should vitality and relationships endure .
In auspicious paintings, one often finds a crane perched on an ancient pine branch, as in the scroll here. Together, pine and crane convey a wish for longevity and felicitous stability (the phrase shōkaku ennen 松鶴延年 literally means “pine and crane, prolonging years”). As one description notes: “The cranes, as the symbol of longevity, go well together with the pine tree, so this is a very auspicious painting” . The crane’s white feathers and red cap also have associations with purity and the rising sun, adding to its auspicious nature.
• Bamboo with a Minogame (蓑亀): The third scroll features bamboo and a minogame, or “straw raincoat turtle.” The minogame is a mythic form of turtle or tortoise so old that seaweed and algae have grown from its shell, trailing behind like a straw raincoat (蓑, mino) – a poetic indication of extreme age . Turtles in East Asian symbolism are among the premier symbols of longevity and felicity. A popular Japanese proverb states, “Tsuru wa sennen, kame wa mannen” (鶴は千年、亀は万年) – “The crane lives a thousand years, the turtle ten thousand years” – highlighting the turtle’s legendary lifespan. In art, the long-tailed turtle (minogame) is often shown by rocks or in water as an auspicious element, sometimes carrying the Isle of the Immortals on its back. In this scroll, the turtle appears amid bamboo, which itself is an auspicious plant. Bamboo (takenoko) symbolizes resilience, flexibility, and integrity: it bends without breaking, stays green and upright, and was associated with scholarly virtue.
It is also one of the “Three Friends of Winter” (歳寒三友) along with pine and plum blossom – plants that thrive even in adversity.
Thus, while bamboo does not explicitly mean “long life” by itself, it complements the theme by representing enduring strength and honourable character. One source explains that bamboo stands for flexibility and integrity, making it a beloved motif for good fortune . In some traditional pairings (especially Chinese paintings), bamboo is more famously matched with a tiger (symbolizing courage) or sparrows, but in Japanese auspicious sets like this, pairing bamboo with a venerable tortoise balances the pine-and-crane on the other side. The minogame turtle under the bamboo implies a wish for ten-thousand-year longevity supported by integrity and resilience.