
Chinese Verses on Itako (Itako zekku shu)
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Format:
- Oban
- Source:
- Art Institute of Chicago
Description
The Itako zekku shu illustrates a sequence of Chinese-style quatrains set in and around the Itako region of Hitachi Province, a marshy area known for its waterways and the blind female shamans (itako) who gave the place its name. The woodblock-printed text and images blend Japanese literary culture with continental poetic form, a hybrid mode Hokusai pursued across several illustrated publications.
More Prints by Katsushika Hokusai
Hokusai manga (Hokusai Sketchbooks)
19th century
Woodblock-printed book; ink and light color on paper

Fukuroi
1804
Japanese woodblock print

The Fishermen of Katase Hauling in Their Nets: The Purple Shell (Murasakigai)
1821
Color woodblock print with metallic pigments; surimono shikishiban

Burdock Root (Kurama gobo), from the series "A Selection of Horses (Uma-zukushi)"
1822
Color woodblock print; shikishiban, surimono
More Landscapes Prints

Lake Kugushi in Wakasa Province (Wakasa Kugushiko), from the series Souvenirs of Travel I (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"
Wakasa Kugushiko
1920
Color woodblock print; oban

Autumn Maple Leaves at Takao, from the album Eight Views of Kyoto (Kyôto hakkei)
Woodblock print

The Beach at Kaiganji in Sanuki Province (Sanuki Kaiganji no hama), from the series "Collection of Views of Japan II, Kansai Edition (Nihon fukei shu II Kansai hen)"
1934
Color woodblock print; oban

Tea Kettle, section of a sheet from the series "Mirror of Stone Rubbings of Views of the Provinces" (Kohon meihitsu ishizuri kagami)
n.d.
Woodblock print; ishizuri-e, section of harimaze sheet
Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chinese Verses on Itako (Itako zekku shu) was created by Katsushika Hokusai (葛飾北斎).
Chinese Verses on Itako (Itako zekku shu) depicts landscapes, rivers & lakes, and calligraphy.