Old pagoda on Mt Kôya

Mt. Kōya in Wakayama Prefecture is the headquarters of Shingon Buddhism, founded by Kūkai in the early ninth century, and contains many historic temple structures across its forested plateau. The print depicts one of the mountain's pagodas, possibly the Daitō or one of the smaller multi-story towers that punctuate the temple complex. Buddhist architecture was a recurring subject across Hiratsuka's career—he produced extended series on temples and pagodas at Hōryū-ji, Yakushi-ji, and other ancient sites. The composition treats the tiered eaves and central pillar through bold black silhouette and carved interior detail, the print's structure echoing the pagoda's own architectural rhythm. The work joins an established sosaku-hanga interest in Buddhist heritage as a counterweight to mid-century modernization; Hiratsuka's mokuhanga record of these monuments forms a substantial portion of his lifetime output and stands alongside his temple work in Nara and Kyoto as a sustained documentary engagement.