Byodo-in Temple in Uji-Renge near Kyoto

This meisho-e depicts the Byodo-in in Uji, situated roughly ten kilometers southeast of Kyoto on the Uji River. The temple's designation as Uji-Renge — the lotus of Uji — alludes to the lotus blossoms that traditionally covered the Aji Pond surrounding the Phoenix Hall. Hasui's composition likely shows the full reflection of the Hoo-do in still water, a composition that invites direct comparison with Hiroshige's earlier treatments of celebrated sites. The shin-hanga printing technique, employing multiple woodblocks for sky, water, and architectural detail, allows the pond's surface to function as a mirrored image of the hall above. Soft bokashi gradations in the sky suggest either early morning light or the diffuse luminosity of an overcast autumn afternoon.