Ukiyo-e 43, TC-2, Handbag - Chikanobu, The Ueno Park
Ukiyo-e Bag - The Ueno Park.
Ukiyo-e (Japanese, meaning "Pictures of the Floating World"). Ukiyo-e depicts and records the life of Japanese people in the Edo period. It represents Japanese art of 17-19 centuries.
「上野公園開花図」
Ueno Park is a large public park next to Ueno Station in central Tokyo. The park grounds were originally part of Kan’ei-ji Temple (寛永寺) which was once one of the largest and wealthiest temples in the Edo Period. It was the family temple of the ruling Tokugawa clan. Since the Edo period, this place has been known for its blooming cherry blossoms.
How did the temple become Ueno Park? Kan’ei-ji Temple, Ueno Park, the painter, and this beautiful painting, the four things make up a very interesting story. Meanwhile, there is a not-well-known story behind it. (View the video on the left)
The Park and the Artist - An unknown story Behind
The place where the scenes of peace and beauty are shown in this painting was once the battlefield of Toyohara Chikanobu (豊原周延).
On July 4th of 1868, the Battle of Ueno (上野戦争), which was part of the Boshin War (戊辰戦争), occurred at the Kan'ei-ji Temple. The land of Kan'ei-ji Temple was almost completely destroyed in the battle. As mentioned in the video, Toyohara Chikanobu involved. He was 29 years old at the time.
In this war, he, as a member of the "Shogitai" (彰義隊), was on the side against the Meiji Restoration. Shogitai (彰義隊) means "The League to Demonstrate Righteousness" and was an elite corps of the shogunate. There was a painting "Ueno Battle", by an unknown painter around 1870, depicted and recorded the tragic and intense battle scenes.
The war lasted for one day and ended with the failure of shogunate. Shogitai (彰義隊) was destroyed and nearly exterminated in a day. Obviously, Toyohara Chikanobu survived.
After the defeat of the Battle of Ueno, the artist participated in another battle "The Battle of Hakodate" (函館戦争; December 4, 1868 to June 27, 1869), and the result again ended in failure.
Six years later…
In 1875, Toyohara Chikanobu decided to try to make a living as an artist. He went to Tokyo and found an art job at a newspaper. He started his painting career. Due to his artistic talent, he later became one of the masters of painting in that era in Japan and created many artworks. In 1888, he completed this painting "The Ueno Park".
Perhaps, through the baptism and actual participation of the fierce war he can better appreciate and cherish the beautiful days of peace, leaving this beautiful painting.
The First Park in Japan
After the battle, the temple site was converted into the first Western-style park in Japan. Ueno Park was opened to the public in 1873, and on May 9, 1876, the Emperor personally attended the opening ceremony of Ueno Park, it became Japan’s first park.
Ueno Park – A cherry blossom city
Ueno Park is one of Tokyo's most popular and lively cherry blossom spots with more than 1000 cherry trees lining its central pathway, the Sakura Lane. The cherry blossoms are usually in bloom during late March and early April and attract large numbers of hanami (cherry blossom viewing) parties. Every spring, the park transforms into a sea of pink blossoms and draws crowds of more than 2 million people during the sakura season for hanami. In the evening, people's enthusiasm will not be reduced by the coming of the night. The paper lanterns are lit which light up the trees.
The Painting - Western women watching cherry blossoms
Treaty of Kanagawa of 1854 in the late Tokugawa period established "The Opening of Japan to the West." In this work, we see several western women watching cherry blossoms in Ueno Park, as the local Japanese did. Toyohara Chikanobu (豊原周延) beautifully depicted this scene, where was once a bloody killing place for him.
Created in 1888
Artist: Toyohara Chikanobu (豊原 周延; Japanese, 1839-1912)
Art inspires fashion - Exotic style fashion.
Ukiyo-e (Japanese, meaning "Pictures of the Floating World"). Ukiyo-e depicts and records the life of Japanese people in the Edo period. It represents Japanese art of 17-19 centuries.
The Ueno Park
(Also known as “Flowering Cherry Blossoms at the Ueno Park”)「上野公園開花図」
Ueno Park is a large public park next to Ueno Station in central Tokyo. The park grounds were originally part of Kan’ei-ji Temple (寛永寺) which was once one of the largest and wealthiest temples in the Edo Period. It was the family temple of the ruling Tokugawa clan. Since the Edo period, this place has been known for its blooming cherry blossoms.
How did the temple become Ueno Park? Kan’ei-ji Temple, Ueno Park, the painter, and this beautiful painting, the four things make up a very interesting story. Meanwhile, there is a not-well-known story behind it. (View the video on the left)
The Park and the Artist - An unknown story Behind
The place where the scenes of peace and beauty are shown in this painting was once the battlefield of Toyohara Chikanobu (豊原周延).
On July 4th of 1868, the Battle of Ueno (上野戦争), which was part of the Boshin War (戊辰戦争), occurred at the Kan'ei-ji Temple. The land of Kan'ei-ji Temple was almost completely destroyed in the battle. As mentioned in the video, Toyohara Chikanobu involved. He was 29 years old at the time.
In this war, he, as a member of the "Shogitai" (彰義隊), was on the side against the Meiji Restoration. Shogitai (彰義隊) means "The League to Demonstrate Righteousness" and was an elite corps of the shogunate. There was a painting "Ueno Battle", by an unknown painter around 1870, depicted and recorded the tragic and intense battle scenes.
The war lasted for one day and ended with the failure of shogunate. Shogitai (彰義隊) was destroyed and nearly exterminated in a day. Obviously, Toyohara Chikanobu survived.
After the defeat of the Battle of Ueno, the artist participated in another battle "The Battle of Hakodate" (函館戦争; December 4, 1868 to June 27, 1869), and the result again ended in failure.
Six years later…
In 1875, Toyohara Chikanobu decided to try to make a living as an artist. He went to Tokyo and found an art job at a newspaper. He started his painting career. Due to his artistic talent, he later became one of the masters of painting in that era in Japan and created many artworks. In 1888, he completed this painting "The Ueno Park".
Perhaps, through the baptism and actual participation of the fierce war he can better appreciate and cherish the beautiful days of peace, leaving this beautiful painting.
The First Park in Japan
After the battle, the temple site was converted into the first Western-style park in Japan. Ueno Park was opened to the public in 1873, and on May 9, 1876, the Emperor personally attended the opening ceremony of Ueno Park, it became Japan’s first park.
Ueno Park – A cherry blossom city
Ueno Park is one of Tokyo's most popular and lively cherry blossom spots with more than 1000 cherry trees lining its central pathway, the Sakura Lane. The cherry blossoms are usually in bloom during late March and early April and attract large numbers of hanami (cherry blossom viewing) parties. Every spring, the park transforms into a sea of pink blossoms and draws crowds of more than 2 million people during the sakura season for hanami. In the evening, people's enthusiasm will not be reduced by the coming of the night. The paper lanterns are lit which light up the trees.
The Painting - Western women watching cherry blossoms
Treaty of Kanagawa of 1854 in the late Tokugawa period established "The Opening of Japan to the West." In this work, we see several western women watching cherry blossoms in Ueno Park, as the local Japanese did. Toyohara Chikanobu (豊原周延) beautifully depicted this scene, where was once a bloody killing place for him.
Created in 1888
Artist: Toyohara Chikanobu (豊原 周延; Japanese, 1839-1912)
- Price:$178.00
- Glazed synthetic leather
- Custom-print durable Oxford
- Double rolled handles with 6" drop
- Top zip opening has magnetic snaps on each end
- Silver hardware
- Interior features print lining; back zip pocket; 2 front open slip pockets trimmed in matching leather
- Size: 14"W x 9 1/2"H x 6"D