Earlier, I mentioned the "Ansei Edo Earthquake" that hit directly below Edo (posted on March 16, 2011), but Hiroshige Utagawa's "Hundred Views of Famous Edo" may have depicted the scenery of Edo that will be restored after the earthquake. It is said.
Hiroshige was born in 1797 (1797) in the Genemon Ando family, a concentric fire extinguisher in Edo Yatsushiro Sukawagi (now around the Meiji Seimeikan). Later, he took over concentric positions and renamed Shigeemon due to his father's death. He became the subordinate of Toyohiro Utagawa, and named himself "Hiro" in Toyohiro's "Hiro" and "heavy" from his real name "Hiro". Later, he retired from concentric job and published the famous Tokaido Gojusanji in 1832 (1832) and walked on his path as a landscape painter.
1842 (1842) Moved to Kyobashi Okogiri Town. This is the east side of Nakahashi Hirokoji Temple, next to the Kano Nakabashi family, one of the Kano Yotsuya. The current location is located on the southeast side of the Bridgestone Museum of Art (above photo).
In October 1855 (1855), the Ansei Edo Earthquake occurred. Near the house The collapse of the house in Minami Temmacho was also published in tile editions and publications. The following year, at the age of 60, he worked on the production of "Hundred Views of Edo", and was completed two years later in 1858 (1858). Then, in September of that year, he closed his 62-year-old life, and Kyobashi Nakahashi, who drew this masterpiece, became the land of demise.
"Hundred Famous Views of Edo" has 119 views, one of which was drawn by Hiroshige Nidai. Researchers argue that nearly 60% of this series are related to the reconstruction of the Ansei Edo Earthquake. The quake turned around nine rings at the top of Senso-ji Temple five-storied pagoda, but the 100 views of Asakusa Kinryuzan (left photo) depicted a beautifully repaired vermilion five-storied pagoda, expressing the reconstruction of Edo in red and white contrasted with the snow scenery. In addition, "Shitaya Hirokoji" depicts the scene of Matsuzakaya, and "Tetsubosu Tsukiji Gate Ruins" (lower right photo) depicts the restoration of Honganji Temple.
In this Great East Japan Earthquake, I saw some articles about the Ansei Edo Earthquake. The Asahi Shimbun's Tenshojin (March 23, 2011) outlined the Ansei Edo Earthquake, as the tip of the Tokyo Tower was bent in the same way as the previous Senso-ji Temple five-storied pagoda Kuwa.
Because Edokko Hiroshige served as a fire extinguisher, did he entrust the scene of reconstruction to the masterpiece "Hundred Famous Edo Views" by projecting the state of Edo before the collapse and burning in the earthquake? Expectations for a new era of Edo seem to be symbolized by the scenery of cherry blossoms in full bloom in spring. As I stare at this work, which also influenced the japonism of Western Europe, Hiroshige's passion for Edo was conveyed. ●Akira Makibuchi
