Toyohara Chikanobu facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Toyohara Chikanobu (1838–1912), also known as Yōshū Chikanobu, was a famous Japanese artist. He was well-known for his many woodblock prints during the Meiji period in Japan. His art often showed the changes happening in Japan as it moved from the old samurai ways to a more modern time.

Artist's Names
Military Life
Artistic Journey
- Art Styles and Topics
Print Formats
See also

Artist's Names

Chikanobu used the art name "Yōshū Chikanobu" when he signed his artworks. An art name is like a stage name for an artist. His real name was Hashimoto Naoyoshi, which was shared after he passed away.

Some of his first artworks were signed "studio of Yōshū Chikanobu," and a few were just signed "Yōshū." One artwork from 1879 even has the signature "Yōshū Naoyoshi."

A portrait of Emperor Meiji in the British Museum says it was "drawn by Yōshū Chikanobu by special request." You won't find any works signed "Toyohara Chikanobu" or "Hashimoto Chikanobu."

Military Life

Before becoming a full-time artist, Chikanobu was a warrior. He was a loyal follower of the Sakakibara family in a place called Takada. When the Tokugawa Shogunate (Japan's old military government) ended, he joined a group called the Shōgitai. He even fought in a battle in Ueno.

Later, he joined other loyal warriors in Hakodate, Hokkaidō. He fought bravely in the Battle of Hakodate at a special star-shaped fort called Goryōkaku. He was known for his courage during these battles. After his group surrendered, he was sent back to his home area.

Artistic Journey

In 1875, Chikanobu decided to become a full-time artist and moved to Tokyo. He started working as an artist for a newspaper called Kaishin Shimbun. He also created many nishiki-e artworks, which are colorful woodblock prints.

When he was younger, he studied a painting style called Kanō. But he became very interested in ukiyo-e, which means "pictures of the floating world." This art style often showed everyday life, famous actors, and beautiful women. He learned from different teachers, including a student of Keisai Eisen and then joined the school of Ichiyūsai Kuniyoshi. After Kuniyoshi passed away, he continued his studies with Kunisada.

Like many ukiyo-e artists, Chikanobu drew many different things. His art showed everything from Japanese myths to battle scenes from his own time, and even women's fashion. He also drew famous kabuki actors in their roles, capturing their dramatic poses. Chikanobu was especially good at bijinga, which are pictures of beautiful women. He showed how women's clothes, hairstyles, and makeup changed over time, including both traditional Japanese and new Western styles. His art truly captured the shift from the samurai era to modern Meiji Japan.

This woodblock print by Chikanobu shows "The Korean Uprising of 1882," also known as the Imo Incident.

Chikanobu is known as a Meiji period artist, but he also drew scenes from older Japanese history. For example, one print shows an event from the 1855 Ansei Edo earthquake. He also created many prints about the Satsuma Rebellion and Saigō Takamori, showing the unrest in Japan during that time. He even made prints about current events, like the 1882 Imo Incident in Korea.

Many of Chikanobu's war prints, called sensō-e, were made as triptychs (three-panel prints). These prints documented events like the First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895). For instance, his "Victory at Asan" print was released with a story about the battle that happened on July 29, 1894.

Other artists, like Yōsai Nobukazu and Yōdō Gyokuei, were influenced by Chikanobu's work.

Art Styles and Topics

Battle Scenes

Chikanobu created many exciting battle scenes, known as sensō-e. Here are some examples:

The Boshin War (1868–1869)
The Satsuma Rebellion (1877)

A scene from the battle at Kagoshima
An Assemblage of the Heroines of Kagoshima
The battle at Nobeoka

The Jingo Incident in Korea (1882)

A sea-land battle from the Korean Uprising
The Japanese Mission to the Koreans
A battle scene from the Korean Incident

The First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895)

A battle scene from the First Sino-Japanese War
A battle scene from the First Sino-Japanese War
A battle scene from the First Sino-Japanese War

The Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905)

A battle scene from the Russo-Japanese War

Warrior Prints

Chikanobu also made Musha-e, which are prints showing brave warriors.

Miura Daisuke Yoshiaki from the Gempei Seisuiki series
Kusunoki Masatsura fighting an oni (demon)
Takiyasha-hime, daughter of Taira no Masakado

Sakakibara Yasumasa and Toyotomi Hideyoshi on Mt. Komaki
Tomoe Gozen with Uchida Ieyoshi and Hatakeyama no Shigetada

Beauty Pictures

His "beauty pictures," called Bijin-ga, show beautiful women and their daily lives.

From the Azuma series, showing keshō (makeup)
From the Shin Bijin series, No. 12
From the Setsu Gekka (second series), showing the moon on the water
From the Gentō Shashin Kurabe series, Arashiyama
From the Jidai Kagami series, showing the Kenmu era
From the Azuma fūzoku nenjū gyōji series, 6th month
From the Kyōdō risshiki album, Chikako

Historical Pictures

Chikanobu also drew Reshiki-ga, which are historical scenes. These include both recent events from the Meiji era and stories from ancient history.

Recent (Meiji era) history:

A scene of the Japanese Diet (parliament)
A scene in the House of Peers
A scene of a meeting of the Privy Council

Ancient history:

Shiragi Saburō and Tokiaki from the Nihon Rekishi Kyokun series
Tajima no kami Norimasa from the Nihon Rekishi Kyokun series
A Shogun hearing a lawsuit at Fukiage (Edo Castle)

Famous Places

His Meisho-e prints show beautiful scenic spots in Japan.

From the Nikko Mesho series, showing Hannya and Hoto Waterfalls
Kameido Tenjin Shrine

gentō shashin kurabe series, Oji no taki

Meisho Bijin Awase series, Matsushima in Rikuzen Province

Asakusa Park Golden Dragon Mountain

Portraits

Chikanobu also created Shōzō-ga, which are portraits of important people.

Emperor Meiji
Saigō Takamori

Enlightenment Pictures

These "enlightenment pictures," or Bunmei kaika-e, show how Japan was adopting new Western ideas and styles during the Meiji era.

Women and girls in Western dress with various hairstyles

From the Shin Bijin series: Woman with Western-style umbrella and book

From the Azuma fūzoku fuku tsukushi series: Western-style clothing

From the Mitate jūnishi series: Showing mixed clothing styles

Theatre Scenes

Chikanobu made many Yakusha-e, which are scenes from kabuki plays or portraits of kabuki actors. Kabuki is a traditional Japanese theater known for its dramatic makeup and costumes.

Kabuki scene
Kabuki scene
Kuronushi trying to cut down a cherry tree
Kabuki scene
Kabuki scene depicting a samurai carrying a cannon
Kabuki scene

Memorial Prints

Shini-e are "memorial prints" made to honor people who have passed away, often famous actors or artists.

Iwai Hanshiro VIII, a famous actor
Iwai Hanshiro VIII

Women's Pastimes

These prints, called joreishiki, show "Etiquette and Manners for Women" and depict women engaged in various daily activities and traditional pastimes.

From the Azuma kai series: Watching cherry blossoms fall (hanami)
From the Kaika kyōiku mari uta series: Teaching songs with koto and gekkin
From the Shin bijin series: Practicing kanji (Japanese characters)
From the Nijūshi kō mitate e awase series: Weaving Tōei
From the Setsu gekka series II: Creating bonseki (miniature landscapes)
From the Azuma fūzoku fuku tsukushiseries: Purchasing kimono cloth at the drapers
From the Fugaku shū series: Women digging clams at the beach

Typical Meiji era pastimes
Japanese tea ceremony
Japanese Flower Arranging (Ikebana)

Emperor Meiji Pictures

Chikanobu also created prints showing Emperor Meiji in relaxed settings.

Emperor Meiji at a Flower Show
Emperor Meiji at Asukayama Park
Emperor Meiji enjoying the cool evening

Contrast Pictures

Mitate-e, or "contrast prints," often compare old and new ideas, or show a modern scene in a traditional way.

From the Mitate jūni shi series: The Sign of the Ox
From the Gentō shashin kurabe series: Kanjinchō
From the Imayō tōkyō hakkei series: Evening bell at Asakusa
From the Nijūshi Kō Mitate E Awase series: The Deer Milker

Glorification of the Geisha

This type of print celebrates the beauty and grace of geisha, who were traditional Japanese entertainers.

From the Meiyo iro no sakiwake series: Reading a letter

Katamura-rō in the Yoshiwara (a famous entertainment district)

From the Imayō tōkyō hakkei series: Walking with an escort

Print Formats

Chikanobu mostly worked in the ōban tate-e format, which is a large print size that is taller than it is wide. He made many single prints and series in this format.

He also created some series in the ōban yoko-e format, which is a large print size that is wider than it is tall. These were often folded to be put into albums.

While he is famous for his triptychs (three-panel prints), he also made diptychs (two-panel prints) and a few polyptychs (prints with more than three panels).

You can also find his signature on drawings and illustrations in ehon (picture books), which were usually about history. He also designed uchiwa-e (fan prints) and sugoroku (a type of board game). In his later years, he made some kakemono-e, which are prints designed to be hung like scrolls.