Hokkei: Surimono of Benten Shrine on Chikubushima Island

Artist: Totoya Hokkei (1780-1850)
Title: The Shrine of Benten on Chikubushima Island Date: 1821

Hokkei has condensed a small and hilly sacred island into a divine mountainous realm of jutting rocks and towering trees. For scale we can see the tiny boats at bottom and left, one towards the red entrance torii gate. The waves feature blindprinting and the clouds above contain a metallic bronze and the mists below are made with a metallic silver.

Chikubushima is a tiny island in the middle of Lake Biwa; it is one of Japan’s national Places of Scenic Beauty as well as a Historic Site. Upon this hilly island are both a Shinto Shrine and a Buddhist temple that honor the goddess Benten (Benzaiten), a deity sacred to both religions. The 165 stone steps shown in this surimono may still be climbed today, the Inori-no-Ishidan, “Stone Steps of Prayer”. At the top is the main hall of Hogonji Temple. The Shinto shrine is known as Tsukubusuma Shrine,  whose honden is a National Treasure. Hogonji Temple dates from the eighth century, created upon the order of the emperor himself. Provenance: Collection of Theodor Scheiwe (1897-1983).

Dimensions: Shikishiban  (21 x 18.3 cm)  Signature: Hokkei
Condition: Very good impression, color and condition. Some minor creasing and lightly backed. Two hinging remnants, verso.

SKU: SUR073