Procession of women at the Tōshōgū Shrine in Ueno

Utagawa Kunisada (歌川国貞) / Toyokuni III (三代豊国) (artist 1786 – 01/12/1865)

Procession of women at the Tōshōgū Shrine in Ueno

Print


1835
41 in x 14 in (Overall dimensions) Japanese woodblock print
Signed: Kōchōrō Kunisada ga
香蝶楼国貞画
Publisher: Izumiya Ichibei
(Marks 180 - seal 21-235)
Censor's seal: kiwame
Chazen Museum of Art - the second from right panel
Edo-Tokyo Museum - the three left panels There are two prints from this composition in the Chazen Museum of Art: the far left one and the far right one. They describe it as a "Procession of Women at the Toshogu Shrine in Ueno" despite the lack of a descriptive cartouche. However, this appears to be the accepted subject matter.

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In Competition and Collaboration: Japanese Prints of the Utagawa School on page 149 this scene is described: "Kunisada's pentaptych design includes a full retinue of figures making their way from right to left. The center of the sheet includes the primary subject of a great beauty, possibly a princess or a consort of a high-ranking daimyo, carried in a palanquin. Her importance is denoted by the inclusion of a large umbrella hoisted above her. She is accompanied by numerous female attendants, including some women dressed in male clothing."

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The official Tōshōgū Shrine in Ueno states:
The main structure of this shrine was rebuilt in 1651 by Tokugawa Iemitsu, the 3rd Tokugawa Shogun and grandson of Ieyasu, and serves as an example of an architectural style representative of the Edo period: gongen- zukuri. Despite major earthquakes and wars, the structure has remained intact, and has been designated as an important cultural property of Japan due to its representative nature of the Edo period. Many people from all over the world visit the shrine in order to experience true Edo period architecture. Though visiting the shrine itself is free of charge, there is a paid route within its wall (500yen). Visitors are not allowed into the main hall of the shrine, but as people can closely inspect and appreciate its traditional architecture and take pictures, the shrine has become a popular attraction. It’s gorgeous buildings are trimmed in gold leaf and contain beautifully intricate carvings. Visitors are moved by the classic beauty of the traditional structure.
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The curatorial files at the Chazen Museum add: "Tosho Shrine was founded in 1627 in memory of the first Tokugawa shogun, Ieyasu, who was deified and given the posthumous name Tosho Daigongen, “The Great Illuminating Deity of the East."
Izumiya Ichibei (和泉屋市兵衛) (publisher)
mitate-e (見立て絵) (genre)