The Origins of the Kinryuzan Temple at Asakusa
Woodblock Print
ca. 1845-1846 (made)
ca. 1845-1846 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This 'uchiwa-e' (rigid fan print) design by Hiroshige illustrates a Japanese legend. It concerns some fishermen who caught a miniature statue of Kannon, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, in their net. Here she is identified by the rays of a halo emanating from the waters of the Sumida River. The village headman recognised the divinity of the statue and rebuilt his house as a temple dedicated to it. He thereby established what later became the Asakusa Kannon or Kinryuzan Sensoji Temple in Edo (modern Tokyo). This event allegedly took place in 628, the last year of the reign of Empress Suiko.
Object details
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| Object type | |
| Titles |
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| Materials and techniques | Colour print from woodblocks |
| Brief description | Woodblock print, Utagawa Hiroshige I; 'The Origins of the Kinryuzan Temple at Asakusa', from the series 'A Compendium of Historical Sites in Edo'; fan print, Japanese, about 1845-1846 |
| Physical description | Fan print, aiban size. Artist signature: Hiroshige ga. Publisher mark: Ibaya Kyubei. |
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| Style | |
| Object history | Purchased from J. S. Happer, accessioned in 1911. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. |
| Summary | This 'uchiwa-e' (rigid fan print) design by Hiroshige illustrates a Japanese legend. It concerns some fishermen who caught a miniature statue of Kannon, the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy, in their net. Here she is identified by the rays of a halo emanating from the waters of the Sumida River. The village headman recognised the divinity of the statue and rebuilt his house as a temple dedicated to it. He thereby established what later became the Asakusa Kannon or Kinryuzan Sensoji Temple in Edo (modern Tokyo). This event allegedly took place in 628, the last year of the reign of Empress Suiko. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.528-1911 |
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| Record created | November 20, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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