Kusatsu from 'Fifty-three Stations of Tokaido Road'

Category

Library Item

Item no

310

Title

Kusatsu from 'Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido Road' (Tokaido gojusan tsugi meisho zue). Tate-e edition.

Description

Kusatsu was Station 53 on the Tokaido Road. Travellers are depicted sailing across Lake Biwa to arrive at Outsu. Snow-capped mountains can be seen in the distance.

Artist / maker

Hiroshige, Ando

Date

1855

Size

36 x 25 cm.

Type

Wood cut

Location

Art and Design Library

The following information appears on the print:

Signature: Hiroshige hitsu
Artist: Ando/Utagawa Hiroshige

The Tokaido (literally the 'eastern sea road'), was one of two main routes connecting the emperor's capital in Kyoto and the seat of the shogun's administration in Edo (Tokyo). There were 53 numbered stations on this route which, depending on weather conditions, could take up to a month to complete. Kusatsu was number 53, leading to Outsu and the final destination of Kyoto. On arrival the traveller would immediately pay homage to the emperoror in the Imperial Palace. In the square cartouche (top right) the caption reads: 'From Kusatsu to Yabase the road is like a bow' (Kusatsu yori Yabase wa michi no yumi to naru). Instead of travelling all the way round the lake, time could be saved by taking a boat and crossing from shore to shore.
Hiroshige completed several versions of this travel series, which were immediately successful.

This is one of a set of 50 prints donated to Edinburgh City Libraries by Marie Ferguson Dyer in honour of her father Henry Dyer. Dyer was a Scottish engineer who became the first Principal of the Imperial College of Engineering in Tokyo in 1872.

Exhibitions with this item

Other views of this item

Related images

Related subjects

Landscape > Land > Mountains

Landscape > Water > Loch, lakes and ponds

Places > Asia > Japan

Transport > Water > Ships

Read how our collections have inspired people taking part in events, visits and community groups. Use the slider or navigation arrows to see more responses.