1964 After Kiyonaga "The Seasonal Pleasure of Visiting Places of Worship", Full-Color Print From Japan

Description

A lovely full-color Ukiyo-E Hanga print after original woodblock print "The Seasonal Pleasure of Visiting Places of Worship" by Kiyonaga … more A lovely full-color Ukiyo-E Hanga print after original woodblock print "The Seasonal Pleasure of Visiting Places of Worship" by Kiyonaga (1752-1815). Comes from a rare Collection of 24 Masterpieces by Kiyonaga. Produced & published by Shuei-Sha, Tokyo, in July 1964. Printers: Toppan Printing Co., LTD. Printed on one side. Attached at the top to a board of heavy textured paper, covered with lighter sheet of paper for protection, numbered 5 on the label on the front of the cover. Excellent condition - minor edge wear on the board and cover, never framed, ready to be framed. Copy of the commentary by Dr. Kiyoshi Shibui (below) in Japanese and English is included.

Overall (folded) 12.55"W x 18.20"H
Overall (unfolded) 25"W x 18.20"H
Image 7.30"W x 10.05"H

Commentary by Ukiyo-e Art consultant & editor Dr. Kiyoshi Shibui:
Signature: signed KIYONAGA
Printer: Unidentified
Date: roughly 1784
In the possession of Mr. Magozaemon Kashiwabara, Tokyo

Boys who were apprenticed to business houses lived for two fete days of the year of 16th of July and the 16th of January. Those were the days of absolute freedom and joy to them, all paid by their masters. On the two days, one is told "the lid of the iron pot in hell is opened" to release prisoners wallowing in it. King of Hell will days a day off too, it is said. As a boy, curiosity used to take me to the bronze king of Hell at Sugacho of Okura-mae to look at the tableaux of Inferno in which bad people were being punished by all kinds of ordeals, the liars were getting their tongues pulled with huge pincets. On those days, the temples of Edo simultaneously held special services to attract worshippers.

This picture, from the looks of its service hall and the long lanterns hung, appears to be the Yakushi temple at Kayaba Street. For the grownup women, visiting different places of worship once a month was not exactly an act of devotion to Buddha but simply an excuse for outing to have a day of complete freedom, released from household duties to which they were bound rigidly all their lives. less