Ukiyo (浮世) or The Floating World is a term used to describe the pleasure-seeking lifestyle and culture of Edo PeriodJapan (1615-1857). The Edo period (江戸時代, Edo-jidai) is a division of Japanese history running from 1600 to 1867. ...
The Floating World centered around Yoshiwara, the licensed red-light district of Edo (modern Tokyo). The area's brothels, teahouses and kabuki theatres were frequented by Japan's growing middle class. The Floating World culture also arose in other cities such as Osaka and Kyoto. This movie set in Kyoto recreates the appearance of a red-light district such as Yoshiwara. ... The modern skyline of Tokyo is highly decentralized. ... The Kabukiza in Ginza is one of Tokyos leading kabuki theaters. ... Osaka Castle (ÅŒsaka-jÅ) Location in Japan Osaka Aquarium (Kaiyukan) Osaka railway station The Osaka Tower (TsÅ«tenkaku) Osaka City listen? (大阪市; ÅŒsaka-shi) is the third-largest city in Japan, with a population of 2. ... This page is about the city Kyoto. ...
The famous Japanese woodblock prints known as ukiyo-e, or "pictures of the Floating World", depict scenes of the Floating World: geishas, kabuki actors, sumo wrestlers, samurai and prostitutes. Ukiyo-e (Kanji 浮世絵, meaning pictures of the floating world) is the general term for a genre of Japanese woodblock prints produced between the 17th and the 20th century, featuring motifs of landscapes, the theater and pleasure quarters. ...
The development of this art form occurred during the Edo period (1603-1867) which was a time of relative peace whereby the middle class and common man could afford to spend their spare time and resources on transient pleasures such as Kabuki theater and geisha entertainment in establishments such as the Ichiriki Ochaya.
Ukiyoe was an inspiration for cubism and it is widely known that it had a great influence on impressionists such as Vincent Van Gogh and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec.
Ukiyoe is a treasured art not only because of its depiction of life in the Edo period but also since its form is an enduring preserve of Japanese culture during that era.
Depending on what school an artist belonged to would largely determine the style of interpretation of the subject, whether or not fine or bold lines were used, what thematic qualities were considered appropriate for that school, what coloration would be aesthetically acceptable, and what the purpose of the piece would serve.
Ukiyoe, in their greatest popularity were to be found all over Europe during the turn of the last century.
But despite the lack of ukiyoe craft which is done today, art collectors and those who love the texture and feel of these pieces can still aquire prints from original blocks here in Japan.
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