Ehon Edo no mizu 絵本江都之見図

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Commentary by Satō Satoru　

Posted March 20, 2018
Original unedited text in Japanese follows

This three-volume work depicts meisho, or “famous places,” in Edo with seven openings with monochrome illustrations (some are double-page, others single-page) in each volume by Utagawa ToyokuniI accompanied by kyōka poems by the Sukiyaren circle of poets. [1] Volume 1 includes a preface by the kyōka master Kyōkadō Magao 狂歌堂真顔 (Shikatsube no Magao, 1753–1829) with meisho of “Shin-Yoshiwara” (新吉原), “Nihonbashi” (日本橋), “Sakaichō” (堺町), “Asakusadera” (浅草寺), “Kameido” (亀井戸), “Takinogawa” (滝の川), and “Myōken” (妙見). The sites in volume 2 are “Matsuchiyama” (真乳山), “Ueno” (上野), “Ryōgokubashi” (両国橋), “Meguro” (目黒), “Atagoyama” (愛宕山), “Takanawa” (高輪), and “Shinmei” (神明). Volume 3 depicts “Rakanji” (羅漢寺), [2] “Mimeguri” (三囲), “Umeyashiki” (梅屋鋪), “Fukagawa” (深川), “Asukayama” (飛鳥山), “Shinobazu no ike” (不忍池), and “Sannō” (山王). It also includes a postscript by Shinratei (Shinra Banshō II, 1758–1831), and from the preface we understand this book of kyōka was produced under his guidance.

Most of the scenes are conventional portrayals of celebrated locations. For example, the composition of “Nihonbashi” (vol. 1) shows Mount Fuji in the distance, with Edo Castle in the middle view, and Nihonbashi in the foreground. However, certain illustrations treat contemporary topics such as the cherry tree to the left in “Asakusadera” (vol. 1), which was dedicated to the popular Yoshiwara courtesan Hinazuru (雛鶴) of the Chōjiya (丁子屋) brothel, or “Myōken” (vol. 1), which depicts Edo’s highest pine tree in Oshiage on the right. The kyōka also make reference to an area’s famous local products (meibutsu 名物) or site, such as the well-known fire strikers of the Masuya shop in the poem on the “Shinmei” image and the “Sleeping Dragon Plum” (Garyūbai) in “Umeyashiki.” , “Fukagawa” (深川), “Asukayama” (飛鳥山), “Shinobazu no ike” (不忍池), and “Sannō” (山王).

Although the characters on the title slip of the Pulverer copy are printed, this is certainly original, but there is nothing remaining of the original cover. The square collector’s seal at the top of page 1 on the website reads “Hayashi Tadamasa in”, and the rectangular seal at the bottom of the same page has not been identified.

書名　絵本江都之見図
執筆者佐藤悟

江戸名所を描き、狂歌を添えた歌川豊国の墨摺の狂歌絵本である。寛政七年（1795）に和泉屋市兵衛より出版された。[1] 上巻は狂歌堂真顔の序文、「新吉原」「日本橋」「堺町」「浅草寺」「亀井戸」「滝の川」「妙見」の七図から、中巻は「真乳山」「上野」「両国橋」「目黒」「愛宕山」「高輪」「神明」の七図、下巻は「羅漢寺」[2]「三囲」「梅屋鋪」「深川」「飛鳥山」「不忍池」「山王」の七図と森羅亭の跋文からなる。序文からこの狂歌絵本が二代目森羅万象の主導もとに制作されたことが知られる。

選ばれた名所の描き方は、「日本橋」ならば遠景に富士山、中景に江戸城、近景に日本橋を描くなど、多くの場面は類型的である。その一方で「浅草寺」には吉原の遊女、丁子屋の雛鶴が奉納した桜が描かれるなど、時事的な話題も取り入れている。「妙見」には押上にあった江戸でも名高い松の木が描かれる。狂歌も「神明」では火打鎌で名高かった升屋を、「梅屋鋪」では臥龍梅など、その場所の名物を歌に取り入れている。

Copies in other collections:
Edo-Tokyo Museum, Tokyo
National Diet Library, Tokyo
Tokyo Metropolitan Central Library
Tōyō Bunko, Tokyo

[1] The title of this book is sometimes listed as Edo no mizu (燕都の見図).
[2] Rakanji (Rakan Temple) refers to the Gohyakurakanji 五百羅漢寺 (Gohyakurakan Temple), formerly located in Honsho itsutsume 本所五ッ目 (present-day Oshima, Kōtō ward) and later moved to Meguro ward.