Glossary

Exhibition Snow Melts. Japanese Art

A

ARATAME (改)
Translated literally as “examined”; a censor’s seal, which was often used together with a date seal. The censor’s seal was required up until 1876 (see also: kiwame).

ARITA WARE (有田焼)
A broad term for Japanese porcelain made in the area around the town of Arita. In this region a great majority of early Japanese porcelain, especially Japanese export porcelain, was made (see also: Imari ware).

B

BERO-AI (ベロ藍)
“Berlin blue”, “Prussian blue” or “Hiroshige blue”; a synthetic pigment first made in Berlin in about 1704, was introduced into Japan during the 18th century by Dutch traders.

BIJINGA (美人画)
Images, paintings or prints of courtesans and beautiful women.

BLOCKCUTTER (彫師)
Also known as a horishi or hori seal, is a mark of the person responsible for cutting the artist’s design into the wooden blocks. Despite their significant contributions, the names of blockcutters are only occasionally included in ukiyo-e.

BUNRAKU (文楽)
The traditional Japanese puppet theatre.

C

CENSOR SEAL (改印)
An official seal found on ukiyo-e used from 1790 to 1876, indicating that it has passed Edo censorship regulations. They appear alongside artist and publisher marks and verify that the artwork does not have forbidden content (see also: aratame and kiwame).

CHŪBAN (中判)
Small ukiyo-e print size. Half an ōban; approximately 25 x 19 cm (see also: ōban).

D

DAI NIPPON (大日本)
Translated literally as “Great Japan”; a mark that is primarily found on Japanese export porcelain from the Meiji period until the 1930s.

DAIRA-BINA (内裏雛)
A pair of dolls that represent the Emperor and Empress. They are the most important dolls in the hinakazari (雛飾り), or doll displays and are placed on the top of it (see also: Hinamatsuri and ningyō).

DATE SEAL
Seals used from 1805 until 1876 that indicate the month and year of publication using one of the 12 animals of the zodiac and a specific month. Some date seals were used in combination with separate censor seals, while other seals incorporated both date and censor information within a single seal.

E

E (絵)
Translated literally as “picture”; often used to label ukiyo-e woodblock prints.

EDO (江戸)
Previous name of Tokyo (1603–1868).

EDO PERIOD (江戸時代)
Also known as the Tokugawa period (德川時代); the period from 1603 until 1868, when Japan was ruled by the Tokugawa military government.

F

FUKAGAWA PORCELAIN FACTORY (深川製磁)
A porcelain factory in the Arita region founded in 1894 featuring Mount Fuji and a stream as its trademark.

FŪKEIGA (風景画)
Landscape painting and prints used particularly for the works of Hokusai and Hiroshige.

FUROSHIKI (風呂敷)
Wrapping cloth used to carry or store things.

G

GA (画)
Often seen at the end of the ukiyo-e master’s signature, denoting belonging – drawn by or painted by (see also: hitsu).

GEISHA (芸者)
Entertainers who specialized in dancing, playing musical instruments, singing, and the art of conversation.

GENJI (光源氏)
Hikaru Genji is the protagonist of the novel “The Tale of Genji”. He is portrayed as a handsome and talented man (see also: The Tale of Genji and genji-e).

GENJI-E (源氏絵)
Prints and paintings depicting scenes and characters inspired by the novel “The Tale of Genji” (see also: The Tale of Genji and Genji).

H

HANADORI (花鳥)
A high-ranked courtesan or oiran (花魁) of the Ogi house in Yoshiwara pleasure district in Edo, a known subject of ukiyo-e. Her name, written with the same characters as kachōga (花鳥画), flowers and birds paintings, evokes refined beauty and seasonal imagery.

HANAMI (花見)
Translated literally as “flower viewing”; is the Japanese tradition of appreciating the fleeting beauty of flowers.

HANAMICHI (花道)
Translated literally as “flower path”; the part of the kabuki stage which extends into the audience.

HARU (春)
Spring in Japanese.

HEISEI PERIOD (平成時代)
The period in Japan’s history from 1989 until 2019.

HICHŌZAN SHINPO-SEI (肥碟山信甫製)
Brand name used by several Arita porcelain makers. It was made at the end of the Edo period in Mikawachi kilns and commissioned by the merchant, Tashiro Monzaemon (田代紋左衛門, 1816–1900).

HIDARI JINGORŌ (左甚五郎, ca. 1594–1634)
A legendary Edo period woodcarver, renowned for his expressive and lifelike sculptures and regarded as an embodiment of exceptional craftsmanship.

HINAMATSURI (雛祭り)
The Dolls’ Festival, celebrated as Girls’ Day on 3 March. Hina-ningyō (雛人形) are specific dolls for Hinamatsuri festival (see also: Daira-bina and ningyō).

HITSU (筆
Often seen at the end of the ukiyo-e master’s signature and denoting belonging – painted by (see also: ga).

I

IMARI WARE (伊万里)
A Western term for Arita ware export porcelain. Named Imari after the port from which it was shipped (see also: Arita ware).

K

KABUKI (歌舞伎)
Japanese theatre, which began in the Edo Period and combined song (ka 歌), dance (bu 舞) and skill (ki 伎). All roles in kabuki are played by males.

KIWAME (極)
Translated literally as “approved”; the censor’s seal which was used from 1791 until 1842 (see also: aratame).

KUMADORI (隈取)
The kabuki actor’s make-up.

M

MATSU (松)
Pine tree; represents longevity, endurance, and is often used in cultural, artistic, or naming contexts.

MEIJI PERIOD (明治時代)
The period in Japan’s history from 1868 until 1912, during which the emperor’s power was restored, the Tokugawa military government collapsed, and intensive modernization of the country took place.

MEISHO-E (名所絵)
A picture of a famous place in painting and prints.

MIE (見得)
A dramatic exaggerated pose assumed by a kabuki actor to indicate the emotional character of the hero that they are portraying.

MICA POWDER (Japanese ummo 雲母)
A type of silicate minerals which is ground into powder and was used in ukiyo-e prints to obtain a shimmering effect.

MOCHI (餅)
A traditional Japanese rice cake.

MON (紋)
A family crest; used in kabuki, to denote the family name of an actor.

N

NINGYŌ (人形)
Translated literally as “human shape”; refers to Japanese doll art.

NISHIKI-E (錦絵)
Translated literally as “brocade pictures”; a coloured woodblock print technique, which was invented in the 1760s.

NŌ (能)
The oldest form of Japanese classical theatre, which is based on dance and music. Masks are used in nō, as opposed to make-up, which is used in kabuki theatre.

O/Ō

ONNAGATA (女方)
The actor who portrays the female role in kabuki theatre.

ONO NO KOMACHI (小野小町, ca. 825–ca. 900)
A Japanese waka poet and one of the Six Poetry Immortals, famed for her love poetry and enduring association with feminine beauty (see also: Six Poetry Immortals).

ŌBAN (大判)
The standard size of an ukiyo-e page; approximately 38 x 25 cm.

ŌKURA PORCELAIN FACTORY (大倉陶園)
Porcelain factory established in 1919 in Yokohama.

ŌTOMO NO KURONUSHI (大友黒主)
A Japanese waka poet and one of the Six Poetry Immortals (see also: Six Poetry Immortals).

P

PUBLISHER’S SEAL (版元)
A seal that identifies the publisher of ukiyo-e, usually appearing alongside the artist’s signature and censor’s seal. It functioned as a mark of accountability and quality control and often provides important information for dating and attribution.

R

RYŪBUNDŌ-ZŌ (龍文堂造)
Works produced by the Ryūbundō workshop, active in Japan during the Edo and Meiji periods and particularly known for high quality cast-iron wares such as tea kettles.

S

SAKURA (桜)
A Japanese cherry blossom tree; symbol of beauty and illusiveness of life.

SAMURAI (侍)
Translated literally as “one who serves”; a member of the warrior class until the end of the Edo period.

SANNŌ FESTIVAL (山王祭)
Shinto festival, traditionally celebrated in spring during the Edo period. It marked renewal and divine protection through ceremonial processions linked to seasonal transition.

SATSUMA WARE (薩摩焼)
A Japanese ceramic originally produced in the Satsuma region, distinguished by a crackled ivory glaze and elaborate decoration, particularly associated with the late Edo and Meiji periods.

SENSU (扇子)
Japanese folding fan.

SHICHIGOSAN (七五三)
A Shinto rite of passage for children aged three, five, and seven, celebrated on 15 November. It marks prayers for healthy growth and is often accompanied by auspicious imagery, including flowers symbolising vitality and renewal.

SHOGA (書画)
The interconnected arts of calligraphy and painting, highlighting their shared use of brush and ink.

SHŌWA PERIOD (昭和時代)
The period in Japan’s history from 1926 until 1989.

SIX POETRY IMMORTALS (六歌仙)
A group of six acclaimed poets of the early Heian period (9th century), celebrated for their mastery of waka poetry.

SŌJŌ HENSHŌ (僧正遍照, 816–890)
A Japanese waka poet and Buddhist priest, one of the Six Poetry Immortals (see also: Six Poetry Immortals).

SUGAWARA NO MICHIZANE (菅原道真, 845–903)
A renowned Heian period (794–1185) scholar, later revered in Shinto as Tenjin, the god of learning.

T

TACHIYAKU (立役)
Actors who play the male roles in kabuki theatre.

TAIMIN SEIKA NENSEI (太明成化年製)
Porcelain with marks imitating Chinese marks of the Ming dynasty made at the Arita kiln during the 19th and 20th centuries.

TAISHŌ PERIOD (大正時代)
The period in Japan’s history from 1912 until 1926.

TATE-E (縦絵)
Ukiyo-e prints in a vertical or portrait format.

TETSUBIN (鉄瓶)
Japanese cast-iron teapot, kettle.

THE TALE OF GENJI (源氏物語)
Originally “Genji Monogatari”; is a novel written in the early 11th century by Murasaki Shikibu (紫式部, ca. 973–ca. 1014). It features a wide range of characters centred on Prince Hikaru Genji, who navigates court life and complex romances (see also: Genji and genji-e).

TŌKAIDŌ (東海道)
The main road along the eastern coast from Kyoto to Edo. Tōkaidō can be roughly translated as “Eastern Sea Road”.

TOMOYAMA (朋山) (also read as Hōzan)
Satsuma ware maker during Meiji period (see also: Satsuma ware).

TOSHIDAMA SEAL (年玉印)
The seal of the Utagawa school; usually round and with a twisted cloth like upper left corner, or in a stretched vertical oval form with the artist’s signature in it (see also: Utagawa school).

U

UKIYO (浮世)
Floating, fleeting, or transient world; the term describes the hedonistic urban lifestyle during the Edo period (see also: ukiyo-e).

UKIYO-E (浮世絵)
Translated literally as “floating world pictures”; a general term which is used to describe Japan’s woodblock prints (see also: ukiyo).

UKIYO-E SERIES “JOY AND ANGER, LOVE AND PLEASURE” (喜怒愛楽之内)
An ukiyo-e series by Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) drawing on a theme of human emotions.

UKIYO-E SERIES “ONE HUNDRED POEMS BY ONE HUNDRED POETS” (百人一首)
An ukiyo-e series by Utagawa Toyoshige (Toyokuni II) that visually interprets poems from the classical Japanese poetry anthology “One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets” through bijinga imagery.

UKIYO-E SERIES “SHOGA FOR THE FIFTY-THREE STATIONS OF THE TŌKAIDŌ” (書画五拾三駅)
An ukiyo-e series by Utagawa Yoshitora depicting the fifty-three post towns along the Tōkaidō. Combining images with calligraphy, the series reflects the transition from the late Edo period to the early Meiji era and offers a later reinterpretation of this travel route.

UKIYO-E SERIES “SELECTION FOR THE TWELVE SIGNS OF ZODIAC” (美盾十二史)
An ukiyo-e print series by Utagawa Kuniyoshi in which the twelve animals of the East Asian zodiac are reimagined through allegorical and imaginative imagery, reflecting the artist’s inventive approach to popular subjects. Many prints in this series feature portraits of famous kabuki actors of the Edo period.

UKIYO-E SERIES “TWELVE MONTHS OF GENJI IN THE MODERN STYLE” (今様源氏十二月之内)
An ukiyo-e series by Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) reimagining scenes from “The Tale of Genji” through a contemporary Edo period lens. Depicting activities associated with the twelve months of the year, the series blends seasonal imagery with fashionable settings and romantic themes, exemplifying the popular genre of genji-e.

UKIYO-E SERIES “36 VIEWS OF MOUNT FUJI” (富士三十六景)
The ukiyo-e series by Utagawa Hiroshige that depicts Mount Fuji in different seasons and weather conditions from various places and distances. Each print shows the importance of Fuji in Japanese culture and how it relates to the landscape.

UKIYO-E SERIES “48 FAMOUS VIEWS OF EDO” (江戸名所四十八景)
The ukiyo-e series made by Utagawa Hiroshige II where he continues his teacher style and subject matter. At this point, he had just started using his teacher’s name, therefore the prints are signed with a name Hiroshige.

UME (梅)
Japanese plum; signifies the arrival of spring in late winter. Ume blossoms are a symbol of spring, resilience, and the endurance of life.

UTAGAWA FUSATANE (歌川房種, active ca. 1850s–1880s)
Ukiyo-e artist active during the late Edo and early Meiji periods. Fusatane’s work was influenced by Utagawa Hiroshige for landscapes and Utagawa Kunisada for figures.

UTAGAWA HIROSHIGE (歌川廣重, 1797–1858)
Ukiyo-e artist, best known for his poetic landscape prints depicting famous places, seasons, and weather in the Edo period. Hiroshige produced over 8000 works in his lifetime, and to this day, he remains one of the most popular ukiyo-e artists.

UTAGAWA HIROSHIGE II (二代目歌川広重, 1826–1869)
Ukiyo-e artist who was best known for continuing the tradition of his teacher Utagawa Hiroshige in producing landscape prints.

UTAGAWA KUNISADA (TOYOKUNI III) (歌川国貞（三代豊国), 1786–1864)
One of the most prolific and popular ukiyo-e artists of the Edo period, renowned for his prints of kabuki actors and illustrations inspired by “The Tale of Genji”.

UTAGAWA KUNISADA II (二代歌川国貞, 1823–1880)
Ukiyo-e artist of the late Edo and early Meiji periods, a pupil of Utagawa Kunisada. His work is characterised by bright, intense colours, reflecting the visual style of late ukiyo-e.

UTAGAWA KUNIYOSHI (歌川国芳, 1797–1861)
One of the leading ukiyo-e artists of the late Edo period, known for his inventive compositions, expressive imagery, and dynamic visual storytelling while working with popular subjects.

UTAGAWA SCHOOL (歌川派)
One of the most influential schools of Japanese ukiyo-e, active from the late 18th to the 19th century. The school is known for its prolific production of woodblock prints, including actor portraits yakusha-e, images of beautiful women bijinga, landscapes, and historical and literary subjects.

UTAGAWA TOYOSHIGE (TOYOKUNI II) (歌川豊重（二代豊国), 1777–1835)
Ukiyo-e artist of the late Edo period, known for his yakusha-e prints of kabuki actors and bijinga prints of beautiful women.

UTAGAWA YOSHITORA (歌川芳虎, active ca. 1836–1887)
Ukiyo-e artist active in the late Edo and early Meiji periods, a pupil of Utagawa Kuniyoshi.

Y

YAKUSHA-E (役者絵)
Translated literally as “actor pictures”; kabuki actor prints.

YUNOMI (湯呑み)
A traditional Japanese handleless teacup used for everyday tea drinking.