The Kidai Shōran Scroll

The Kidai Shōran is a magnificent painted Japanese scroll, an artistic rendering of one of the most iconic streets of Edo (as Tokyo was then called) at the beginning of the nineteenth century. It covers five blocks of the main shopping thoroughfare leading south from the Imagawa Bridge to the bridge at Nihonbashi. Though it is believed to have been painted by a well-known artist, its provenance is shrouded in mystery. But over its more than 12-meter length, the artist has given us an almost cinematic look at urban life during the Edo period. More than 1,600 people are depicted here, coming from every walk of society, from samurai to student, hairdressers, minstrels, and geisha. Their activities are portrayed in rich and loving detail: here a young pilgrim receives alms, there a blind masseur rushes to his next appointment, on the other side of the street, a construction crew raises the framing that will become a new shop.

In this fascinating book, the authors bring these details to life with expert commentary and knowledgeable analysis of the times when the scroll was created.

Making an appearance in the scroll are:
• 88 Shops
• 32 Children
• 4 Oxen
• 1,439 Men
• 20 Dogs
• 2 Falcons
• 200 Women
• 13 Horses
• 1 Monkey

OZAWA Hiromu
Ozawa Hiromu received his graduate degree in literature from Meiji University. He is a professor of Japanese and Japanese Culture at Chofu Gakuen Junior College, and an honorary researcher at the Edo-Tokyo Museum, focusing on Japanese culture and Japanese art history. He is the author of a number of books, including Toshizu no Keifu to Edo (Yoshikawa Kōbunkan, 2002).

KOBAYASHI Tadashi
Kobayashi Tadashi received his graduate degree in art history from the University of Tokyo. He was formerly a professor, faculty of literature, at Gakushuin University, and is now chief curator at the Chiba Art Museum. His research subjects are centered around Japanese art history. He is the author of several books, including Utamaro: Portraits from the Floating World (Kodansha USA, 2001).

*information as of time of publication

Japan Library series
Art & Design

Publisher:
Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture

Hardcover
¥3,500 + tax
ISBN 9784866581323
300 mm x 221 mm / 108 pp. / March 2020

eBook
ISBN 9784866581712 (ePub)
ISBN 9784866581729 (PDF)

The World of Kidai Shōran: Life in Edo, 200 Years Ago / Streets and Districts in the Vicinity of Nihonbashi / The Scroll in its Entirety // Part I / Edo Merchants’ Roots / A Merchant’s Career Path / Merchants on the Road // Part II / Edo Merchants and Fires / Treating Disease // Part III / Merchants’ Attire / Merchants’ Pastimes // Part IV / Merchants’ Amusements / Merchants’ Favorite Reading // Occupations an Arts Illustrated in Kidai Shōran / A Guided Tour through Kidai Shōran / More about the Picture Scroll Kidai Shōran / The Location of the Kidai Shōran Scroll / About the Authors / About the Translator

『熈代勝覧』、今川橋から日本橋までの大通りを俯瞰描写した12mの大作絵巻。約200年前の商家や魚河岸と人々などが緻密に描かれた貴重な絵巻をもとに、二人の日本美術史学者が活気あふれる江戸を読み解く。

小澤 弘
1947年長野県生まれ。明治大学大学院文学研究科博士課程修了。東京都江戸東京博物館教授。専攻は日本文化史・日本美術史。

小林 忠
1941年東京都生まれ。東京大学大学院人文科学研究科修士課程修了。学習院大学文学部教授・千葉市美術館館長。専攻は日本近世・近代美術史。

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