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The Ukiyo-e Moon

The Moon in Japanese ArtCreated by: PICRYL - Public Domain Media Search EngineDated: 1866
"A fairy moon and a lonely shore"
During the Edo period (1603-1868), ukiyo-e (浮世絵/"floating world pictures"), woodblock cuts exploded in popularity across Japan.
Throughout the Edo period, the moon remained a very popular subject for ukiyo-e art. Scenes of nightlife in Edo (modern-day Tokyo) and Kyoto and prints depicting a gigantic moon (or 'ukiyo-e moon') floating over houses, temples, and Japanese landmarks were hugely popular.
The Rimpa school was known for its half-moons, which adorned many of their paintings. Perhaps the most famous series with the ukiyo-e moon as a theme is Tsukioka Yoshitoshi's "One Hundred Aspects of the Moon" series. Most sets of the series published in 1885 underneath a full moon. "One Hundred Aspects of the Moon" was one of the last of the great ukiyo-e series to be published.
58 Media in collectionpage 1 of 1
Gekka momo ni tsubakura - Public domain portrait drawing

Gekka momo ni tsubakura - Public domain portrait drawing

Print shows two swallows with peach blossoms and a full moon. Title and other descriptive information compiled by Nichibunken-sponsored Edo print specialists in 2005-06. Format: Otanzaku-ban Nishikie. Adachi mo... More

[Fūkeiga], Ando Hiroshige - Public domain portrait drawing

[Fūkeiga], Ando Hiroshige - Public domain portrait drawing

Print shows a moonlight scene along a river with people fishing, in boats, and walking along the shore. Title and other descriptive information compiled by Nichibunken-sponsored Edo print specialists in 2005-06... More

Jūgo, Utagawa Kunisada, Japan - Public domain portrait drawing

Jūgo, Utagawa Kunisada, Japan - Public domain portrait drawing

Print shows a man and a woman walking along a roadway illuminated by lanterns, at night under a full moon; on the left is a male servant carrying a sword. Title and other descriptive information compiled by Nic... More

Utagawa Hiroshige - Seba, Andō Hiroshige - Ukiyo e print

Utagawa Hiroshige - Seba, Andō Hiroshige - Ukiyo e print

Print shows two men poling sampans on the Ohta River beneath a full moon. Title and other descriptive information compiled by Nichibunken-sponsored Edo print specialists in 2005-06. From the series: Kisokaidō r... More

Uyōkanazawa hashōyakei - Public domain Japanese woodblock print

Uyōkanazawa hashōyakei - Public domain Japanese woodblock print

Public domain photo of Japanese woodblock print (Ukiyo-e), free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Kōyō saruhashi no zu Andō Hiroshige

Kōyō saruhashi no zu Andō Hiroshige

Print shows steep cliffs with a bridge spanning the chasm above an inlet, with view of full moon between the cliffs. Title and other descriptive information compiled by Nichibunken-sponsored Edo print specialis... More

Sumida gawa no tsuki Andō Hiroshige

Sumida gawa no tsuki Andō Hiroshige

Print shows a full moon shining on pedestrians crossing a bridge over inlet with boats and buildings nearby, and the Sumida River and mountains in the background. Title and other descriptive information compile... More

[Fūkeiga] - Public domain Japanese woodblock print

[Fūkeiga] - Public domain Japanese woodblock print

Print shows a moonlight night with small boats heading toward village and a flock of geese flying overhead.

Konen Uehara - Tsuki ni tomari fune

Konen Uehara - Tsuki ni tomari fune

Print shows sailboats at dock and low buildings under the light of a full moon. Title and other descriptive information compiled by Nichibunken-sponsored Edo print specialists in 2005-06. Format: full color woo... More

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

Each illustration, including front of envelope, is signed with Japanese characters and chops. Japanese text appears in the left and right margins of the eight printed sheets. Gift; Oliver Wendell Holmes; 1935.... More

Jōga hongetsu, Taiso Yoshitoshi - Ukiyo e print

Jōga hongetsu, Taiso Yoshitoshi - Ukiyo e print

Print shows a female deity, Chang-e, full-length, holding a vial of the elixir of immortality, as she rides on clouds to the moon. Title and other descriptive information compiled by Nichibunken-sponsored Edo p... More

Uyōkanazawa hashōyakei - Drawing. Public domain image.

Uyōkanazawa hashōyakei - Drawing. Public domain image.

Public domain photo of Japanese woodblock print (Ukiyo-e), free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

"A fairy moon and a lonely shore"

"A fairy moon and a lonely shore"

Print shows a man with a shoulder pole walking along a moonlite shore. Stamp on verso: Matsumoto print, no. 39. The Matsumoto Do, Ltd. Tokyo, Japan. Forms part of: Japanese prints and drawings (Library of Congress).

[Fūkeiga], Andō Hiroshige - Public domain portrait drawing

[Fūkeiga], Andō Hiroshige - Public domain portrait drawing

Print shows a moonlight scene on a river with boats. Title and other descriptive information compiled by Nichibunken-sponsored Edo print specialists in 2005-06. Format: modern Oban reproduction. Forms part of: ... More

Utagawa Hiroshige - Saruwaka-machi yoru no kei

Utagawa Hiroshige - Saruwaka-machi yoru no kei

Print shows pedestrians on a commercial street at night beneath a full moon. Title and other descriptive information compiled by Nichibunken-sponsored Edo print specialists in 2005-06. From the series: Meisho e... More

Ishiyama no shūgestu, Ando Hiroshige - Ukiyo e print

Ishiyama no shūgestu, Ando Hiroshige - Ukiyo e print

Print shows bird's-eye view of the Buddhist temple at Ishiyama-dera, and a building on a bluff, also a bridge across the Seta River (the same bridge as in Evening glow at Seta), and mountains in the distance, u... More

Uyōkanazawa hashōyakei - Public domain Japanese woodblock print

Uyōkanazawa hashōyakei - Public domain Japanese woodblock print

Public domain photo of Japanese woodblock print (Ukiyo-e), free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

[Fūkeiga] - Public domain Japanese woodblock print

[Fūkeiga] - Public domain Japanese woodblock print

Print shows a moonlight night with small boats heading toward village and a flock of geese flying overhead.

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

Each illustration, including front of envelope, is signed with Japanese characters and chops. Japanese text appears in the left and right margins of the eight printed sheets. Gift; Oliver Wendell Holmes; 1935.... More

Daimotsu kaijō no tsuki - Public domain portrait drawing

Daimotsu kaijō no tsuki - Public domain portrait drawing

Print shows a Musashibo Benkei praying to appease the gods and calm the rough seas so that his ship may cross Daimotsu Bay safely. Title and other descriptive information compiled by Nichibunken-sponsored Edo p... More

Shigenaga Nishimura - [Moon viewing at Shinagawa]

Shigenaga Nishimura - [Moon viewing at Shinagawa]

Print shows men and women eating and entertaining while looking at the full moon at a large building or pavilion in Shinagawa, on the Tōkaidō Road. Adachi modern reprint (Showa). Forms part of: Japanese print... More

Semimaru - Public domain Japanese woodblock print

Semimaru - Public domain Japanese woodblock print

Print shows Prince Semimaru tuning a lute by the light of a full moon at his mountain retreat on Mount Ausaka.

Tamausagi songokū, Taiso Yoshitoshi - Ukiyo e print

Tamausagi songokū, Taiso Yoshitoshi - Ukiyo e print

Print shows Son Goku, a monkey sometimes known as the Monkey King, holding a spiked sceptre and glaring at the Moon Rabbit, who apparently lives on the moon. Title and other descriptive information compiled by ... More

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

Each illustration, including front of envelope, is signed with Japanese characters and chops. Japanese text appears in the left and right margins of the eight printed sheets. Gift; Oliver Wendell Holmes; 1935.... More

Chūshū, Harunobu Suzuki, Woodblock Print, Japan

Chūshū, Harunobu Suzuki, Woodblock Print, Japan

Print shows two women, one sitting, the other reclining, on a bench between blossoming plants and beneath a full moon. Title and other descriptive information compiled by Nichibunken-sponsored Edo print special... More

Kyōbashi takegashi, Andō Hiroshige - Ukiyo e print

Kyōbashi takegashi, Andō Hiroshige - Ukiyo e print

Print shows pedestrians crossing the Kyō Bridge as a man poles a boat on the river below, with long pieces of bamboo along the bank on the left, and a full moon overhead. Title and other descriptive information... More

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

Each illustration, including front of envelope, is signed with Japanese characters and chops. Japanese text appears in the left and right margins of the eight printed sheets. Gift; Oliver Wendell Holmes; 1935.... More

Tamagawa no shūgetsu, Andō Hiroshige - Ukiyo e print

Tamagawa no shūgetsu, Andō Hiroshige - Ukiyo e print

Print shows people on shore and in boats fishing on the Tama River beneath a full moon. Title and other descriptive information compiled by Nichibunken-sponsored Edo print specialists in 2005-06. From the serie... More

Kyōbashi takegashi, Andō Hiroshige - Ukiyo e print

Kyōbashi takegashi, Andō Hiroshige - Ukiyo e print

Print shows pedestrians crossing the Kyō Bridge as a man poles a boat on the river below, with long pieces of bamboo along the bank on the left, and a full moon overhead. Title and other descriptive information... More

Sugawara no Michizane, Taiso Yoshitoshi - Ukiyo e print

Sugawara no Michizane, Taiso Yoshitoshi - Ukiyo e print

Print shows Sugawara Michizane, full-length, standing next to a tree beneath a full moon, writing poetry. Title and other descriptive information compiled by Nichibunken-sponsored Edo print specialists in 2005-... More

Yoru no fukagawa sanbashi - Public domain portrait drawing

Yoru no fukagawa sanbashi - Public domain portrait drawing

Print shows a person standing on a dock attached to a building, a small boat with passengers arriving or departing, under a full moon. Title and other descriptive information compiled by Nichibunken-sponsored E... More

Takanawa tsuki no kei - Public domain Japanese woodblock print

Takanawa tsuki no kei - Public domain Japanese woodblock print

Print shows full moon shining on boats in harbor and many people walking between buildings on the beach.

Yūgao dana nōryō zu - Public domain Japanese woodblock print

Yūgao dana nōryō zu - Public domain Japanese woodblock print

Print shows a couple in the country with a child and a teapot, sitting on a mat beneath a trellis covered with yūgao vines, enjoying the full moon.

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

Each illustration, including front of envelope, is signed with Japanese characters and chops. Japanese text appears in the left and right margins of the six printed sheets. Gift; Oliver Wendell Holmes; 1935. F... More

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

Each illustration, including front of envelope, is signed with Japanese characters and chops. Japanese text appears in the left and right margins of the six printed sheets. Gift; Oliver Wendell Holmes; 1935. F... More

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

Each illustration, including front of envelope, is signed with Japanese characters and chops. Japanese text appears in the left and right margins of the eight printed sheets. Gift; Oliver Wendell Holmes; 1935.... More

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

Each illustration, including front of envelope, is signed with Japanese characters and chops. Japanese text appears in the left and right margins of the eight printed sheets. Gift; Oliver Wendell Holmes; 1935.... More

Aki no tsuki, Andō Hiroshige - Public domain portrait drawing

Aki no tsuki, Andō Hiroshige - Public domain portrait drawing

Print shows view across the landscape from a building of the full moon above a body of water with boats and a large hill. Title and other descriptive information compiled by Nichibunken-sponsored Edo print spec... More

Tsuki no misaki, Andō Hiroshige - Ukiyo e print

Tsuki no misaki, Andō Hiroshige - Ukiyo e print

Print shows the view through two open sliding panels of a porch with large body of water beyond, several boats at anchor beneath a full moon; the shadow of a woman is visible on the left sliding panel. Title an... More

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

Each illustration, including front of envelope, is signed with Japanese characters and chops. Japanese text appears in the left and right margins of the eight printed sheets. Gift; Oliver Wendell Holmes; 1935.... More

Yumiharizuki, Andō Hiroshige - Public domain portrait drawing

Yumiharizuki, Andō Hiroshige - Public domain portrait drawing

Print shows a bridge spanning a steep canyon with a crescent moon visible between the canyon walls. Title and other descriptive information compiled by Nichibunken-sponsored Edo print specialists in 2005-06. Fr... More

Kanagawa, Andō Hiroshige - Public domain portrait drawing

Kanagawa, Andō Hiroshige - Public domain portrait drawing

Print shows a view of ships in a harbor and an inn under a full moon on the coast at the Kanagawa station on the Tōkaidō Road. Title and other descriptive information compiled by Nichibunken-sponsored Edo print... More

Tsuki no misaki, Andō Hiroshige - Ukiyo e print

Tsuki no misaki, Andō Hiroshige - Ukiyo e print

Print shows the view through two open sliding panels of a porch with large body of water beyond, several boats at anchor beneath a full moon; the shadow of a woman is visible on the left sliding panel and a lam... More

Inabayama no tsuki, Taiso Yoshitoshi - Ukiyo e print

Inabayama no tsuki, Taiso Yoshitoshi - Ukiyo e print

Print shows a warrior climbing Mount Inaba by the light of a full moon. Title and other descriptive information compiled by Nichibunken-sponsored Edo print specialists in 2005-06. From the series: Tsuki hyaku s... More

Kōshi no tsuki, Taiso Yoshitoshi - Ukiyo e print

Kōshi no tsuki, Taiso Yoshitoshi - Ukiyo e print

Print shows Ono no Takamura tying a bundle of firewood as he looks toward the moon rising above buildings in the distance, possibly his parents home. Title and other descriptive information compiled by Nichibun... More

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

Each illustration, including front of envelope, is signed with Japanese characters and chops. Japanese text appears in the left and right margins of the six printed sheets. Gift; Oliver Wendell Holmes; 1935. F... More

Uyōkanazawa hashōyakei - Public domain Japanese woodblock print

Uyōkanazawa hashōyakei - Public domain Japanese woodblock print

Public domain photo of Japanese woodblock print (Ukiyo-e), free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Waisui no tsuki, Taiso Yoshitoshi - Ukiyo e print

Waisui no tsuki, Taiso Yoshitoshi - Ukiyo e print

Print shows the Chinese general Wu Zixu talking to a fisherman sitting on the shore of the Huai River, who tells him the location of the grave of the man who murdered the general's father. Title and other descr... More

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

Each illustration, including front of envelope, is signed with Japanese characters and chops. Japanese text appears in the left and right margins of the six printed sheets. Gift; Oliver Wendell Holmes; 1935. F... More

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

Each illustration, including front of envelope, is signed with Japanese characters and chops. Japanese text appears in the left and right margins of the eight printed sheets. Gift; Oliver Wendell Holmes; 1935.... More

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

Each illustration, including front of envelope, is signed with Japanese characters and chops. Japanese text appears in the left and right margins of the eight printed sheets. Gift; Oliver Wendell Holmes; 1935.... More

Utagawa Hiroshige - Numazu, Tasogare-zu

Utagawa Hiroshige - Numazu, Tasogare-zu

Public domain photo of Japanese woodblock print (Ukiyo-e), free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Tsuki - Public domain Japanese woodblock print

Tsuki - Public domain Japanese woodblock print

Print shows a woman and a young girl looking at a full moon.

[View of full moon from the scaffolding beneath a bridge, with city on the left]

[View of full moon from the scaffolding beneath a bridge, with city on...

Title devised by Library staff, other descriptive information compiled by Nichibunken-sponsored Edo print specialists in 2005-06, and researcher F.M. de Monasterio, 2016) Takamizawa modern reprint (Showa). Form... More

[Fūkeiga], Andō Hiroshige - Public domain portrait drawing

[Fūkeiga], Andō Hiroshige - Public domain portrait drawing

Print shows a moonlight night with a man poling a small boat as the moon rises from behind a grove of trees. Title and other descriptive information compiled by Nichibunken-sponsored Edo print specialists in 20... More

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

Each illustration, including front of envelope, is signed with Japanese characters and chops. Japanese text appears in the left and right margins of the six printed sheets. Gift; Oliver Wendell Holmes; 1935. F... More

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

Each illustration, including front of envelope, is signed with Japanese characters and chops. Japanese text appears in the left and right margins of the six printed sheets. Gift; Oliver Wendell Holmes; 1935. F... More

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

[Modern illustrated sheets with pictorial envelope]

Each illustration, including front of envelope, is signed with Japanese characters and chops. Japanese text appears in the left and right margins of the eight printed sheets. Gift; Oliver Wendell Holmes; 1935.... More