Opening the Hokkaidō New Road
Artist
Utagawa Hiroshige III
(Japanese, 1843 – 1894)
Publisher
Higashi Honganji temple
Date1871
PeriodMeiji period (1868–1912)
MediumWoodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
DimensionsSheet: 14 9/16 × 9 13/16 in. (37 × 25 cm)
Image: 13 3/8 × 8 11/16 in. (34 × 22 cm)
Image: 13 3/8 × 8 11/16 in. (34 × 22 cm)
ClassificationsPrints
Credit LineGift of Charles and Robyn Citrin, 2018
Object numberSN11629.204
This print belongs to the series, Pictures of the 1870 Hokkaidō Preaching Mission of Gennyo Shōnin, Higashi Honganji Temple 明治三年東本願寺現如上人北海道巡錫絵図 (Meiji san nen Higashihonganji gen nyo shōnin Hokkaidō junshaku ezu). This expedition was a "civilizing" mission into the northern island of Hokkaidō, recently annexed by the Meiji government, led by Higashi Honganji, a major Buddhist sub-sect. One component of it was the construction of roads to facilitate access to the people and rich natural resources of Hokkaidō, and make it easier to defend from foreign incursion. More than 50,000 people were mobilised to build the 60 mile road, including former samurai, new settlers from the mainland, political prisoners, and conscripts from amongst the Ainu.
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Utagawa Hiroshige
c. 1833
Utagawa Hiroshige
1858
Utagawa Hiroshige
1858
