56 AMAM.OBERLIN.EDU THE EIGHT VIEWS OF EDO Although Japanese artists first adapted the Eight Views theme to the scenery of Ōmi surrounding Lake Biwa, in the early 19th century printmakers like Utagawa Hiroshige applied it to their home city, rendering Edo’s urban landscape. The Eight Views of Edo uniquely blended traditional views (sunset, rain, snow) with the city’s distinctive features—canals, bridges, and temples. These prints captured seasonal changes and atmospheric conditions while documenting Edo’s development as a major city. The series reflected both environmental awareness and cultural continuity, showing how natural phenomena could enhance urban scenes just as they had highlighted rural landscapes in earlier traditions. Above: UtagawaHiroshige I 初代目歌川広重 (Japanese, 1797–1858) EveningGlowat Koganei Bridge, fromthe series Eight Views of the Environs of Edo, ca. 1837–38 Color woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper MaryA. AinsworthBequest, 1950.1039 Here human life seems harmoniously integrated with nature, evoking nostalgia through its rural landscape. The print features a part of Edo’s canal system introduced earlier. The artwork uses seasonal imagery—specifically spring’s evening glow—and cherry blossoms to symbolize renewal and life’s transience in the surroundings of the city we know as Tokyo. In today’s climate crisis, this nostalgic scene carries added significance. While Tokyo now faces environmental challenges like polluted canals and resource depletion, this print reminds us of humanity’s capacity to overcome environmental difficulties, offering inspiration for addressing current climate threats. Top right: UtagawaHiroshige I 初代目歌川広重 (Japanese, 1797–1858) EveningBell at Ikegami, fromthe series Eight Views of the Environs of Edo, ca. 1837–38 Color woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper MaryA. AinsworthBequest, 1950.1037 In this print, we see Ikegami Honmonji temple, perched atop a forested hill in southern Edo. As the head temple of the Nichiren sect of Buddhism, it is still a major site in Tokyo and has maintained its harmonious relationship with nature since its founding in 1282. The title Evening Bell at the upper right prompts imagination of the low sustained tones of a Buddhist temple bell. The artist uses black for the tall, ancient cedar trees surrounding the temple and gray in the sky to suggest nightfall. Edo residents climbed the steep steps up to the temple to worship or to enjoy views of the bay and Mount Fuji and the cool shade of this urban sanctuary. Today, the temple is a green space within the metropolis, demonstrating how religious sites can preserve natural environments within urban settings.
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