Hiroshige 広重: Station Nissaka from the Reisho Tokaido 日坂 (RESERVED)

Artist: Utagawa Hiroshige 広重 (1797-1858)
Title: Nissaka: Sayo-no-Nakayama, the Night-crying Stone, and Mount Mugen 日坂　小夜の中山　夜啼石　無間山

Series: Tōkaidō gojūsan tsugi 東海道五十三次 (also known as the Riesho Tokaido, for the style of the title script)  Date: ca. 1847-1853

A compelling story anchors this scene, along with the large, round stone at the base of the design. This is the famous Night-Weeping Stone, where according to legend, a  woman was waylaid by bandits and her blood fell onto the stone. Ever since, the stone is said to cry out at night for her. The writing on the stone seems to be the Buddhist mantra “Namu Amida Butsu” (”Veneration to the Buddha Amitabha”), which the faithful would also chant in the hopes that the unfortunate victim would be welcomed into Amitabha’s Pure Land and become free of suffering. To the right, a group of three travellers arrives at the stone landmark, two of them gesturing towards it. Another group of three is seen walking towards the next station. There are three small, name-bearing cartouches that identify the various landmarks; these include the stone, Mount Mugen and Sayo no Nakayama, which is the name of the mountain pass. It is considered one of the three most treacherous mountain passes on the Tokaido due to its steep hills and dark woods.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition. Dimensions: ôban (24.2 x 36.9 cm) Publisher: Maruya Seijiro (Marusei). Signature: Hiroshige ga

Literature:  See MFA Boston, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Chazen Museum of Art collections.

SKU: HIR576