Expression of the Edo Period

The exploration of Ukiyo-e and Kabuki.

By Alissa Hicks
With assistance by: Natsumi & Ami
Ukiyo-e
Ukiyo to float

E picture

Associated with pleasures of rising middle
class
Commoners could afford to buy and
commission ukiyo-e
Genres
Beauties (Bijin-ga)
Celebrated ideal and real women
of the time.
Actors (Yakusyae)
Coincided with play performances
Inexpensive and used as souvenirs
Landscapes (Shibaie)
Artists celebrated their surroundings
Used similarly to todays postcards


Printing Techniques
Publisher finances print
Decides on theme and quality
Designer sketches with sumisen (black
ink)

Carver (Horishi)
pastes sketch to
block and carves
out the designs

One for each color
including marks to
align blocks
Printer (Surishi) applied to
actual colors and made
the prints

Paper made of mulberry
paper due to silky sheen
and resistance to tearing
Characteristics
Early Monochromatic with minimal
hand-coloring
Later- many colors, embossing, carving,
and paper textures available
Impact of Ukiyo-e on Japan
Japan had early role in printing
Saved time and money to make Mass
Production
Available to common people now, not
just rich.
Fine detail available in prints
Kabuki
Means song and dance technique
To entertain the audience
Tastes of merchant culture
Recognized as one of Japans 3 major
theater forms
History
Early forms, all performers were women
First kabuki performed by Okuni and troupe to raise money
Kabuki Odori known for vulgarity
Women banned by Tokugawa shogun over fighting concerns due to
womens side business
Wakashu (young mens kabuki) popular next
Banned in 1652 due to adverse effect on public morals
Mens Kabuki (Yaro)
They play all roles
Onnagata female impersonator roles
Ejima- Ikushima Affair 1714
Kabuki jeopardized
Aragoto kabuki style pioneered by 2
nd
person to use stage name
Danjuro Ichikawa.
Helped save kabuki by holding night performances




Genres/Themes
3 major categories of Kabuki play types
Jidaimono (Historical)
Sewamono (Domestic)
Shosagoto (Dance)
Common themes
Love
Suicide
Loyalty
Revenge
Honor

Costumes, Wigs, Make-up
Bold colors and patterns for drama
Discards after one 25 day run
Costumes for bushi (samurai) and Kuge (Court nobles) more
stylized to represent distance from common people

4 parts of wigs Bin, Tabo, Mage, Maegami
Essential due to difference in costume types.

Kudomari trademark of Kabuki for historical plays
Emotion is expressed through color
Red can be good or represent anger
Blue for jealousy or fear.
White for main characters purity, aristocracy, refinement
Importance of Kabuki
Longstanding tradition in Japan for centuries
UNSECO - Masterpiece of Oral and
Intangible Heritage of Humanity
Way for Japan to continue sharing and
teaching future generations about its unique
culture
References
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/ukiyo-e/intro.html
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/ukiy/hd_ukiy.htm
http://www.hokusaionline.co.uk/code/edo_period.html
http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?groupid=2023&historyID=ab84
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2090.html
http://factsanddetails.com/japan/cat20/sub131/item715.html#chapter-1
http://www2.ntj.jac.go.jp/unesco/kabuki/en/3/3_02.html
http://web-japan.org/museum/kabuki/about_ka.html
http://www.nippon.com/en/views/b03001/
www.csse.monash.edu.au
Edoukiyoe.seesaa.net
www.metmuseum.org
https://www.adachi-hanga.com/ukiyo-e/quality/flow
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/ukiyo-e/early.html
http://www.manyoancollection.org/collection-tour/ukiyoe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izumo_No_Okuni
Archive.metropolis.co.jp
www.tafter.it
www.rustixantiques.com
Thestorybehindthefaces.com