Hokusai#1 HOKUSAI MANGA

Katsushika Hokusai is a painter from the Edo period whom I love very much.
In Japan, Hokusai's famous work "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" is used on the reverse side of the new 1,000 yen note that was issued in 2024.

There are so many episodes and works by him that we will be introducing Hokusai in several parts.
Today, I will be talking about "Hokusai Manga".

When we say "manga", we generally mean comics, but in this case, "manga" refers to Hokusai's sketches.
In countries other than Japan, they are called "Hokusai sketches".
At the same time, they also became models for his disciples to use.
There are a total of 15 volumes of "Hokusai Manga" (1814-1878), containing 4,000 sketches. When they were first released, they were advertised with a catchphrase.

In this article, we will introduce some sketches from the "HOKUSAI MANGA".
("HOKUSAI MANGA" (Hokusai sketch) can be purchased at a very reasonable price. In some cases, you can get it for free as an e-book. If you are interested, please try searching for it.

In the Edo period in Japan, the common people were the main characters. Kabuki was the most advanced form of pop culture, and ukiyo-e was like a magazine for keeping up with the latest trends.

 Hokusai sketched various people, including people fishing, people fighting and people stopping them, and people repairing fishing nets.
 
Edo people

Fat people

Thin people

This is a sugar factory. Hokusai also sketched the process.
 
On the left are Japanese gods, and on the right are illustrations of characters from old stories. Hokusai also sketched things that did not exist.
 
Sketches of animals and birds. Hokusai also sketched birds in flight beautifully.

Various poses of birds.

Plants that bloom in the fields and mountains.
 
Observing plants in detail.

Seafood drawn by Hokusai.

Elephants.

A mouse's hiding place.

Sumo action.

Dancing action.
 
Sketch of a person shooting a bow.
 
Various poses of a samurai on horseback.
 
Practice of stick fighting.

 
1
Practice of spear fighting.
 
Presenting the results of practice in front of an important person.
 
Sketch of a landscape
 
Sketch of various rocks
Sketch of a landscape. Notice the movement of the birds.
 
This is one of my favorite sketches. The top is a wave coming towards us. The bottom is a wave going away.
 
This is also a sketch of the sea. The top is a whirling sea. The bottom is a shallow area. The traveler walking across the water emphasizes the shallowness. 

This is also one of my favorite sketches. Depiction of rain. Rain falling at an angle.
 
Rain falling quietly. A large leaf is used as an umbrella.

Rain falling heavily.

This is another of Hokusai's genius sketches. Expression of the wind.

"Running Tiger"

Hokusai also sketched imaginary animals. A dragon.

The god of the wind on the left, the god of thunder on the right
 
The upper left is a ghost, the lower left is a mountain witch called "Yamanba", the upper right is a Tengu, and the lower right is a baboon.
Yamanba" is a classic representation of the modern monster "Turbo Granny" that appears in Dan Dadan.

This is also a god. The left is the god of dance (Ama no Uzume no Mikoto).
The right is the god of guidance (the god of travelers) (Sarutahiko no Kami)

On the left is "In no Daji" (a fox in disguise), and on the right is "Son goku"

Various Yokai

Hokusai also taught us how to draw. Explanation of the screen division.

How to draw a torii gate

How to draw a torii gate

Explanation of the temple. Originally, the traveler was the result of Hokusai's playful mind.

How to draw a pattern

Supplementary information: About Ukiyo-e

Ukiyo-e is a type of woodblock print. It was created with the aim of mass production, so it is possible to obtain it at a low price. During the Edo period, a bowl of soba noodles cost 16 mon, and colorful ukiyo-e (nishiki-e) prints could be obtained from 20 mon.

Ukiyo-e became known overseas when it was used as wrapping paper for ceramics and other items being exported, and as cushions.

Because they are woodblock prints, ukiyo-e can still be made today. Ukiyo-e prints made by skilled craftsmen using high-quality Japanese paper and ink are also sold. Even these works can be bought for around 10,000 yen to 30,000 yen, and even the high-quality ones can be bought for around 50,000 to 100,000 yen.
Ukiyo-e from the Edo and Meiji periods can also be bought. These are second-hand items, and the cheaper ones are sold for around 1,000 yen.
(If you come across a very expensive ukiyo-e print, be suspicious of the price of the frame or hanging scroll.)

 Most ukiyo-e prints have lost their copyright, so you can get high-quality images for free. You can even print them out at home and make a wonderful work of art.

Canon Creative Park
https://creativepark.canon/jp/categories/CAT-ST01-5514/index.html

Please enjoy ukiyo-e prints.



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