Do You Know Ukiyo-e Shifted Japanese Culture from Kansai to Tokyo?
Do You Know Ukiyo-e Shifted Japanese Culture from Kansai to Tokyo? “Ukiyo-e” Is a Genre of Painting Established in the Early Edo Period “Ukiyo-e” is a genre of painting established in the early Edo period. Generally, Edo-period woodblock prints are known as representative works of ukiyo-e. However, originally hand-painted pictures (those drawn directly with a brush) preceded and later transitioned to woodblock prints. Woodblock prints enabled mass production and lower costs, making them accessible to the general public. “Ukiyo-e” Means “Pictures Depicting Contemporary Fashion and Trends” The term “浮世(“Uki-yo”)” originates from “憂き世” (“Uki-yo”), where “Uki” means “suffering” or “painful” and “yo” is a noun meaning “world.” It refers to the transient and sorrowful nature of life. Later, it came to be used to describe contemporary trends and fashions. Therefore, “Ukiyo-e” means pictures depicting the fashionable trends of the time. Nishiki-e (Full-Color Prints) Began in 1765 Woodblock print ukiyo-e began with “Sumizuri-e” (black and white prints) in the Manji era (1657-1661). In 1690, “Tan-e” (hand-colored prints) were created by adding colors with a brush to Sumizuri-e, followed by “Beni-e” and “Urushi-e” in 1716. In 1744, “Benizuri-e” (prints using red, yellow, and green) emerged, and in 1765, “Nishiki-e” (full-color prints using multiple