"Tokaido Fifty-three Times", one of the masterpieces of ukiyo-e artist "Utagawa Hiroshige", depicts the scenery of 53 post stations in Japan from Edo Nihonbashi to Kyoto Sanjo Bridge. At that time, people were just emerging from tourism, visiting shrines, temples or tea ceremonies in various places, and this set of works became a famous travel guide at that time.
The first edition of Tokaido 53 was released around the 4th and 5th years of Tenbo (1832 and 1833), and the main publisher was Hoyongdo, so the first edition was also commonly known as the "Hoyongdo version". After its publication, he created more than 20 Tokaido series, but the most widely known is the "Hoyongdo Edition".
Utagawa Hiroshige's "Fifty-Three Ways of Tokaido" and Katsushika Hokusai's "Thirty-Six Views of Fugaku" series, which ended in 1831, established the genre of ukiyo-e no-e (landscape painting). Ukiyo-e is a woodblock print made by artisans that absorbed Western compositional methods in its creation, and later also influenced European art.
First of all, enjoy Utagawa Hiroshige's "Tokaido Fifty-three Times", from the Edo period travel guide to the present, it is really a good old time!
1. Nihonbashi: Asano View Everyone is bustling and ready to go.
2. Shinagawa: Hinoderi There is also the last line of "Daimyo Confession" (daimyo who guards the four sides of the town and goes to Edo to pay homage to the Tokugawa shogun).
3. Kawasaki: Rokugo Ferry Originally there was no post station. Because the journey from Shinagawa to Kanagawa is too long, travelers are overwhelmed. Later, the post station was built. Mt. Fuji can be seen on the right-hand side.
4. Kanagawa: View of Tai Although the scenery is very similar to Shinagawa. However, because it is far away from Edo, it feels more secluded. It is also an important post station, lined with teahouses on the road.
5. Hodo Valley: Shinmachi Bridge After crossing the bridge, there is a vast idyllic scenery.
6. Tozuka: Motomachi Farewell It's evening, and travelers end their day's trip and dismount to get off their horses.
7. Fujisawa: Parade-ji After the middle of the Edo period, Fujisawa became the point of divergence between the "Oyamado Road" and the "Enoshima Road", and was a must-pass place for tourists. The large torii gate depicted on the picture is the largest torii gate at Benten Shrine in Enoshima.
8. Hirataka: Nawatedo Behind the mountains hides Mount Fuji. The narrow mountain road where the rushing passenger meets the slow palanquin narrow road, full of tension.
9. Oiso: Tiger Rain The rain is pouring, and the travelers are wearing cloaks. It depicts the scenery of Tokaido in the rain.
10. Odawara: Sake Charm River At that time, Hakone Pass was difficult to cross, so I would rest here while crossing the Hakone checkpoint. It was also the first place to defend the city during the journey. There are no bridges, and the river beach is a famous dangerous spot on the Tokaido.
11. Hakone: Lake Water Map The post station here is the highest in the entire Tokaido. The Hakone checkpoint is one of the most dangerous roads on the Tokaido. The mountains are steep and travelers struggle to climb.
Next: Ukiyo-e Masterpiece Series "Tokaido Fifty-Three" II
... THE END…