Kamakurayama Momiji No Ukina
Kamakurayama Momiji No Ukina translates roughly to "Love Affairs in Autumn Leaves at Mount Kamakura". It is a collection of gossip stories written by Bunkeido and illustrated with woodblock prints by Torii Kiyonaga. Comprised of three fascicles and printed on mulberry fiber washi paper, this is a typical example of kibyoshi, or a type of Japanese picture book popular during the Edo Period in Japan.
Kibyoshi or "yellow cover" is a genre of book widely considered to be a precursor to manga. The name refers to the yellow-hued cover binding usually used for each volume. They are lightweight books that were often satirical, offering commentary on politics or gossip about contemporary figures such as popular kabuki actors, poets, and authors. The illustrations on the front and back of a page were carved into a single wood block, the artist skillfully weaving text into each image. The woodblock printing technology used to make kibyoshi made it possible to create and distribute many copies, which led to their widespread popularity.
Torii Kiyonaga was a popular Kibyoshi illustrator. Born Sekiguchi Shinsuke, he changed his name to reflect the Torii family and their school, where he trained as an Ukiyo-e artist. Ukiyo-e was an art style that depicted female beauty, sumo wrestlers, and popular actors. His skill in ukiyo-e was likely why Torii illustrated these stories, which center around love and scandal.
Kamakurayama Momiji No Ukina
Kamakurayama Momiji No Ukina translates roughly to "Love Affairs in Autumn Leaves at Mount Kamakura". It is a collection of gossip stories written by Bunkeido and illustrated with woodblock prints by Torii Kiyonaga. Comprised of three fascicles and printed on mulberry fiber washi paper, this is a typical example of kibyoshi, or a type of Japanese picture book popular during the Edo Period in Japan.
Kibyoshi or "yellow cover" is a genre of book widely considered to be a precursor to manga. The name refers to the yellow-hued cover binding usually used for each volume. They are lightweight books that were often satirical, offering commentary on politics or gossip about contemporary figures such as popular kabuki actors, poets, and authors. The illustrations on the front and back of a page were carved into a single wood block, the artist skillfully weaving text into each image. The woodblock printing technology used to make kibyoshi made it possible to create and distribute many copies, which led to their widespread popularity.
Torii Kiyonaga was a popular Kibyoshi illustrator. Born Sekiguchi Shinsuke, he changed his name to reflect the Torii family and their school, where he trained as an Ukiyo-e artist. Ukiyo-e was an art style that depicted female beauty, sumo wrestlers, and popular actors. His skill in ukiyo-e was likely why Torii illustrated these stories, which center around love and scandal.