124 - Koitsu: Spring Snow at Maruyama Park

Koitsu: Spring Snow at Maruyama Park

Tsuchiya Koitsu (1879-1949) doesn't belong to best known Shin-hanga masters, but in my opinion he is underrated. He definitely is one of the best when it comes to landscapes.

Here we see a snowy landscape as only Japanese artists can catch it: Spring Snow at Maruyama Park, a print from 1936.

123 - Yoshitsuya: A Charm against Measles

Utagawa Yoshitsuya: A Charm against Measles, 1862

This is Hashika no mamori (A Charm Against Measles), from 1862, a woodblock print by Utagawa Yoshitsuya (1822-1866).

This is protective magic against illness, typical for Japan. Yoshitsuya was otherwise best known for his prints of warriors, a genre also favoured by his teacher, Kuniyoshi. Yoshitsuya took the first part of his name from the last part of the name of his teacher, which was common practice at the time.

122 - Keishu: Beauty with Lantern

 

Takeuchi Keishu: Beauty with lantern

This is a bijinga, Beauty with lantern by Takeuchi Keishu (1861-1942). The print is from 1900-1910. Keishu's teacher was the great Tsukioka Yoshitoshi.

121 - Kuniyoshi: Minamato no Tametomo

Kuniyoshi: Minamato no Tametomo

This print is an aka-e, a red print intended to protect against smallpox. It depicts Minamato no Tametomo, is from 1840 and was made by Utagawa Kuniyoshi.

Minamato no Tametomo was a samurai living 1139-1170. In 1156, he fought in the rebellion, which is known as the Hōgen Rebellion. He was famous for his archery.

120 - Shunzan: Hotei God on a Boat Catching Shojo Goblins with a Sake Cup

Shunzan: Hotei God on a Boat Catching Shojo Goblins with a Sake Cup

Hotei is one of the Shichi fukujin, "Seven Gods of Luck", a common motive in Japanese art. He carries a bag, Nunobukuro [布袋], which is never empty, and from which he feeds the needy. The origin of Hotei is a real person, the Chinese Buddhist monk Budaishi. He is considered an incarnation of Matreiya, or in Japanese: Miroku Bodhisattva. Budaishi died in 917 AD.

This print from the 1780s by Katsukawa Shunzan (active 1782-1798) shows Hotei God on a Boat Catching Shojo Goblins with a Sake Cup.

119 - Hasui: Saishô Temple in Hirosaki

Hasui: Saishô Temple in Hirosaki

This is a shin-hanga print by Kawase Hasui (1883-1957). It depicts a Saishô Temple in Hirosaki (Hirosaki, Saishô-in), and is taken from the series Collection of Scenic Views of Japan (Nihon fûkei shû higashi Nihon hen), 1936.

Hasui is one of the foremost shin-hanga artists. His speciality was landscapes and townscapes.

118 - Kuniyoshi: Fûten, the wind god.

Kuniyoshi: Fûten, the wind god.

This is Fûten (巽風), the wind god, manipulating his swirling bag accompanied by a storm-bird; a print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi. The print is from 1837 or 1838, and is part of a series of illustrations to a book, "Shûeki hakke e" 周易八卦絵, Universal Divination by the Eight Trigrams. Only two prints from this series are known; it is unclear if Kuniyoshi ever completed it.

The eight trigrams are symbols of Chinese origin. They can be combined into 64 different hexagrams and are used for divination. It is extensively described in the ancient Chinese book "I Ching".

According to legend, the trigrams were found on the back of a tortoise - a discovery attributed to Chinese emperor Fu Hsi, in the 24th century BC.