Famous Views of the Tokaido: The Rashomon Gate as It Was Once Was
Description
A print from the "Scenes of Famous Places along the Tokaido" series depicting the Rashomon Gate of Kyoto — a site famous in classical literature, most notably in the tale of a desperate man who strips a corpse in the ruined gatehouse to survive, later immortalized by Akutagawa Ryunosuke. Kyosai's rendering of the gate "as it was once was" acknowledges its ruin and its literary resonance simultaneously, invoking a tradition of melancholy engagement with the impermanent grandeur of famous places.
More Prints by Kawanabe Kyosai
Tenpôzan in Osaka: Viewing Children's Sumo (Naniwa Tenpôzan kodomo sumô shôran), from the series Scenes of Famous Places along the Tôkaidô Road (Tôkaidô meisho fûkei), also known as the Processional Tôkaidô (Gyôretsu Tôkaidô), here called Tôkaidô
1863
Woodblock print
Kyosai, Royal Academy, London, FREE DOMESTIC SHIPPING
2022
Original Museum Lithographic Exhibition Poster
from the series One Hundred Pictures by Kyôsai (Kyôsai hyakuzu)
Woodblock print
Gontazaka, from the series Scenes of Famous Places along the Tôkaidô Road (Tôkaidô meisho fûkei), also known as the Processional Tôkaidô (Gyôretsu Tôkaidô), here called Tôkaidô meisho no uchi
Woodblock print
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
Famous Views of the Tokaido: The Rashomon Gate as It Was Once Was was created by Kawanabe Kyosai (河鍋暁斎).
Famous Views of the Tokaido: The Rashomon Gate as It Was Once Was depicts landscapes, architecture, and travel scenes.