Chikubu Island

This print depicts Chikubu Island, the small sacred island in Lake Biwa revered as a site of Benzaiten worship and home to Hogonji Temple. A classic [meisho-e](/glossary/meisho-e) subject with roots in both classical poetry and pilgrimage culture, the island appears as a rocky, forested mass rising from the broad surface of the lake. Nishiyama's nihonga training is evident in the handling of atmospheric depth, likely achieved through graduated [bokashi](/glossary/bokashi) passages that render the hazy quality of the lake's distant shores. The composition draws on a long tradition of landscape prints depicting Lake Biwa's celebrated views, positioning Chikubu Island as an isolated, almost timeless landform against open water and sky.