Seido and Kanda River From Shohei Bridge, No. 47 from One Hundred Famous Views of Edo

Utagawa Hiroshige

Brooklyn Museum photograph

Object Label

While Western collectors value the visual impact of power figures, the ultimate importance of these sculptures to the Songye lies in their effectiveness as protectors of the community from malevolent forces and disease. The power of such figures depends on their ingredients (bishimba), concealed in the abdominal cavity, in the top of the head, or in a horn set into the cranium (missing from this piece). These hidden substances acquire potency and interact with the spirit world when assembled by the nganga, or ritual practitioner.

Caption

Utagawa Hiroshige Japanese, 1797–1858. Seido and Kanda River From Shohei Bridge, No. 47 from One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, 9th month of 1857. Woodblock print, 14 1/4 x 9 5/16in. (36.2 x 23.7cm) Sheet: 14 1/4 x 9 5/16 in. (36.2 x 23.7 cm) Image: 13 x 8 1/2 in. (33 x 21.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Anna Ferris, 30.1478.47. No known copyright restrictions (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 30.1478.47_PS20.jpg)

Gallery

Not on view

Collection

Asian Art

Title

Seido and Kanda River From Shohei Bridge, No. 47 from One Hundred Famous Views of Edo

Date

9th month of 1857

Period

Edo Period, Ansei Era

Geography

Place made: Japan

Medium

Woodblock print

Classification

Print

Dimensions

14 1/4 x 9 5/16in. (36.2 x 23.7cm) Sheet: 14 1/4 x 9 5/16 in. (36.2 x 23.7 cm) Image: 13 x 8 1/2 in. (33 x 21.6 cm)

Signatures

Hiroshige-ga

Markings

Seals in top margin: date seal and censor seal. No publisher's seal visible probably lost when left margin was trimmed.

Credit Line

Gift of Anna Ferris

Accession Number

30.1478.47

Rights

No known copyright restrictions

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