The Fifty-Three Post Stations of the Tokaido Highway Item Number: N2.1136 from the MOA: University of British Columbia

Description

Print depicting a group of people crossing an arched bridge. There is a cluster of buildings in the distance. Blue mountains are part of the background. Print of Okazaki Station (#38). This is one of a series of reproductions of the "53 Post Stations on the Tokaido Hwy," from Nihonbashi to Kyoto (Hoei-do edition). Print is matted on a piece of white-yellow paper and has an additional cover page that folds over the print. A printed inscription on the cover page reads: “ OKAZAKI The castle of the Tokugawas at Okazaki. This is the scene of the famous meeting between Toyotomi Hideyoshi, in his boyhood, and Hachisuga Koroku. Tradition says that Hideyoshi hid under straw-matting on the bridge waiting for some great person worthy to be his master. Hachisuga, a wandering Samaurai, passed and kicked him. After a tussle, Hideyoshi became his follower." There are Japanese characters at the top, bottom, and side of the printed message.

Narrative

This series (Hoeido Edition) was reproduced by Nihon Hanga Kenkyu-Sho Ltd. (Japan Institute for the Study of Woodblock Prints) through the skill of renowned modern engravers; it took three years to complete.

Item History

What

Name
The Fifty-Three Post Stations of the Tokaido Highway
Identification Number
N2.1136
Type of Item
print
Manufacturing Technique
woodblock printed
Image
height 25.8 cm, width 38.8 cm, depth 0.1 cm
Overall
height 34.5 cm, width 49.0 cm, depth 0.1 cm

Who

Culture
Japanese
Creator
Hiroshige Utagawa (Maker)
Previous Owner
Japan Trading Co.
Received from
Japan Trading Co. (Seller) and Leon & Thea Koerner Foundation (Funding source)

Where

Holding Institution
MOA: University of British Columbia
Made in
Japan

When

Creation Date
during 1952
Ownership Date
before 1957
Acquisition Date
during 1957

Other

Item Classes
works on paper
Condition
good