Current Events and the Satsuma Rebellion: Japanese Woodblock Prints of the Edo and Early Meiji Periods (1603–1877)

Date

2024

Contributor

Department

Instructor

Depositor

Speaker

Researcher

Consultant

Interviewer

Narrator

Transcriber

Annotator

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Volume

Number/Issue

Starting Page

Ending Page

Alternative Title

Abstract

In the transition from Japan’s Edo period (1603–1868) to Meiji period (1868–1912), woodblock prints went from being legally barred from depicting current events to explicitly illustrating contemporary conflicts. While often overlooked in Western scholarship, the popular prints of the Satsuma Rebellion of 1877 are a significant reflection of the medium’s expanding subject matter and growing political engagement. However, it is simplistic to view traditional Edo prints as totally apolitical or modern Meiji prints as always accurate depictions of reality. By examining changes in Japanese print censorship and depictions of current events in works by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–1892) from the Edo period to the Satsuma Rebellion, we see how prints of both times were engaged with current events while considering traditional themes and entertainment value. As Satsuma Rebellion prints are a neglected topic in Meiji print and war print history, this thesis also gives an overview of their popularity, publication, and subjects.

Description

Keywords

Art history, Asian history, Asian studies, Japan, Meiji, Nishiki-e, Satsuma Rebellion, Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, Woodblock prints

Citation

Extent

135 pages

Format

Geographic Location

Time Period

Related To

Related To (URI)

Table of Contents

Rights

All UHM dissertations and theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission from the copyright owner.

Rights Holder

Local Contexts

Email libraryada-l@lists.hawaii.edu if you need this content in ADA-compliant format.