The Kōya Jewel River in Kii Province (Kii Kōya) thumbnail 1
The Kōya Jewel River in Kii Province (Kii Kōya) thumbnail 2
Not on display

The Kōya Jewel River in Kii Province (Kii Kōya)

Woodblock Print
circa 1835 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Hiroshige (1797-1858) is recognised as one of the great masters of the landscape print. Most designs on the theme of the six famous Tama rivers depict contemporary scenes. In this series, however, the scenes are quite faithful to the original poems or events. This print shows the Tama river at Mt Koya, Kii province (modern Wakayama Prefecture), made famous in the poem by Kobo Daishi inscribed at the top left.

Object details

Category
Object type
Titles
  • The Kōya Jewel River in Kii Province (Kii Kōya) (assigned by artist)
  • Six Jewel Rivers (Mu Tamagawa no uchi) (series title)
Materials and techniques
Woodblock print on paper
Brief description
Woodblock print, 'The Kōya Jewel River in Kii Province', from the series 'Six Jewel Rivers', by Utagawa Hiroshige I (1797-1858), Edo (Tokyo), Japan, circa 1835.
Physical description
Woodblock print. Chu-tanzaku format, nishiki-e (full-colour print). Figure in landscape.
Most ukiyo-e based on the theme of the six famous Tama rivers depict contemporary scenes. Here, however, the scenes are quite faithful to the original poems or events.This print shows the Koya Tama river, a river made famous in a poem by Kobo Daishi. An apprentice priest is depicted standing on a stone bridge associated with Mt. Koya.
Chu-tanzaku size. Signature: Hiroshige ga. Publisher: Kawaguchiya Shozo. Censorship seal: kiwame.
Dimensions
  • Height: 36.9cm
  • Width: 11.9cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 「六玉河之内」 (Series Title)
    Translation
    Six Jewel Rivers
    Transliteration
    'Mu Tamagawa no uchi'
  • 「紀伊 高野」 (Title)
    Translation
    The Kōya Jewel River in Kii Province
    Transliteration
    'Kii Kōya'
  • 「広重画」 (Artist signature)
    Transliteration
    'Hiroshige ga'
Object history
Purchased from S. M. Franck & Co., accessioned in 1886. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.
Summary
Hiroshige (1797-1858) is recognised as one of the great masters of the landscape print. Most designs on the theme of the six famous Tama rivers depict contemporary scenes. In this series, however, the scenes are quite faithful to the original poems or events. This print shows the Tama river at Mt Koya, Kii province (modern Wakayama Prefecture), made famous in the poem by Kobo Daishi inscribed at the top left.
Associated objects
Collection
Accession number
E.3699-1886

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Record createdDecember 3, 2002
Record URL
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