東海道五十三次　日阪　夜啼石　無間山　小夜の中山|Nissaka

Utagawa Hiroshige

ca. 1848–49 · Woodblock print; ink and color on paper · Asian Art

The composition focuses on the famous Night-Weeping Stone in the center foreground. According to the legend, a pregnant woman was killed by bandits, and her blood fell on the stone. Ever since, the stone has cried at night for her. The writing on the stone is partially legible, probably "Namu Amida Butsu" (Veneration to the Buddha Amitabha). This print gives the stone more narrative impact, but it represents a less picturesque landscape than the same station from the Hoeido Tokaido series.

Artist

Utagawa Hiroshige

Date

ca. 1848–49

Medium

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

The Francis Lathrop Collection, Purchase, Frederick C. Hewitt Fund, 1911