The series of “A hundred horror stories” prints Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) began to deal with “A hundred horror stories” (Hyaku-monogatari/百物語) in 1831. He used the painting name of “Iitsu” (為一) as the signature. Hyakumonogatari was the traditional way of a gathering to speak and hear ghost stories. As the title represents, he and the publisher […]
Hokusai’s horror ghosts artworks (ukiyo-e) Read More »
The Japanese wave arts of “Oceans of Wisdom “(One Thousand Images of the Sea) After the finish of “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji” (富嶽三十六景）, the star ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai started the new series of the Japanese wave arts “One Thousand Images of the Sea” (Oceans of Wisdom,千絵の海) in 1833. He had mainly depicted the combination of
Japanese wave arts “Oceans of Wisdom” by Katsushika Hokusai Read More »
Biography of Utagawa(Ando) Hiroshige(1797-1858) The outstanding ukiyo-e artist, Utagawa (Ando) Hiroshige<歌川（安藤） 広重> was born in 1797 as the son of the official fire fighter Ando Gen-emon. His landscape woodblock printings took many Edo citizens all over Japan. However, he was not from the class of tradesmen and artisans. Ando family belonged to the class
Utagawa Hiroshige: biography and woodblock print artworks Read More »
Katsushika Hokusai’s most famous prints series, Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), who was one of the most active ukiyo-e artists in Edo Period, accomplished the Mt.Fuji arts series of “Fugaku Sanjurokkei”(Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji) in early 18th century. Related Post Katsushika Hokusai’s biography Viewing one by one, you should not get boared with them by his color usage and composition.
Katsushika Hokusai’s 36 views of Mt.Fuji all prints Read More »
The culture of aristocracy/ Kokufu Culture(国風文化) After the accession to the throne, the Emperor Kanmu(桓武天皇) moved the capital from Nagaoka-Kyo to Heian-Kyo, Kyoto, in 794. The event finished the Nara Period and its culture(Tenpyo Culture) , instead of starting Heian Period(平安時代). The inflow of the culture from the Asian Continent came to an end with the
The culture of Heian Period in Japan Read More »
Temples in Nikko, Kii Mountain Range, Iwami Ginzan, and Hiraizumi Certainly, these sightseeing spots would less attract attention from the tourists comparing to Kyoto or Nara. But you can enjoy the temples as well as the scenery surrounding them. The leaders in each period built temples in the capitals to protect the city and the
Buddhism temples in Nikko, around Koyasan, Iwami and Hiraizumi Read More »
Unlike other Buddha statue, Myoo express rage on the face. Because the gods follow the order of Dainichi-nyorai to make people who deny Buddhism submit and believe in. In addition to the expression, they have dynamic power with a roaring fire and various weapons. Sponsored Links As the connection to Dainichi-nyorai, we can’t find the position
Myoo(Vidyā-rāja) of Japanese Buddha statue Read More »
Nara Period and the ancient capital, Heijo-kyo In 710, the capital in Asuka Period was moved to Nara. It was the end of Asuka Period and the start of the completely different time. The new capital was named as Heijo-kyo(平城京). And the leaders at that time planned to imitate the regime of China. So they made Heijo-kyo resembled Chang’an.
Japanese culture in Nara Period. The Tenpyo Culture Read More »
Kyoto, one of the most traditional and historical cities in Japan, attracts more than 80 million people in a year. The city had assumed a role of an administrative function since 794. With the beginning of Heian Period, many people moved from Nara(Heijo-kyo) to Kyoto(Heian-kyo, 平安京） and from that time, they built temples in the new
Buddhist temples in Kyoto/ World Heritage Read More »
There are some arguments when Buddha was born and dead. His birth is thought as from B.C. 7th to B.C. 5 and it is said he died at eighty. After his passing away, people had worshiped his bones, stupa(tomb), and footprints as a religious object for decades. Beefing up as a religion, the leaders of
The physical features of Buddha Read More »
