Complete Triptychs

A triptych is an art piece consisting of three panels which are intended to be viewed as a set. The format represents a special challenge and opportunity for woodblock print artists to present themes on striking and monumental scales. During the Edo period when they were produced, woodblock print triptychs were not typically fastened together or even necessarily bought as a set. While the pieces may have been purchased from separate editions, they were commonly laid out and displayed together. This collection features six triptychs, all displaying diverse scenes and subjects about daily life in Japan, from court scenes to New Year celebrations. To fully view the art pieces in this collection, be sure to view them in order, starting with piece A and concluding with piece C.

The Great Battle at Yashima (1185), A

by Utagawa Yoshitora

     Part of a triptych (left). A print featuring the naval battle at Yashima (屋嶋) (22 March 1185) during the Genpei War (1180–1185), a national civil war between the Taira and Minamoto clans during the late-Heian period of Japan. Following a string of defeats, the Taira clan retreated to Yashima (in today's Takamatsu) off the coast of Shikoku. The ensuing naval battle resulted in a Minamoto victory. It was led by Minamoto no Yoshitsune (on the Minatoto side) and Taira no Munemori and Taira no Noritsune (on the Taira side).

The Great Battle at Yashima (1185), B

by Utagawa Yoshitora

     Part of a triptych (center). A print featuring the naval battle at Yashima (屋嶋) (22 March 1185) during the Genpei War (1180–1185), a national civil war between the Taira and Minamoto clans during the late-Heian period of Japan. Following a string of defeats, the Taira clan retreated to Yashima (in today's Takamatsu) off the coast of Shikoku. The ensuing naval battle resulted in a Minamoto victory. It was led by Minamoto no Yoshitsune (on the Minatoto side) and Taira no Munemori and Taira no Noritsune (on the Taira side).

The Great Battle at Yashima (1185), C

by Utagawa Yoshitora

     Part of a triptych (right). A print featuring the naval battle at Yashima (屋嶋) (22 March 1185) during the Genpei War (1180–1185), a national civil war between the Taira and Minamoto clans during the late-Heian period of Japan. Following a string of defeats, the Taira clan retreated to Yashima (in today's Takamatsu) off the coast of Shikoku. The ensuing naval battle resulted in a Minamoto victory. It was led by Minamoto no Yoshitsune (on the Minatoto side) and Taira no Munemori and Taira no Noritsune (on the Taira side).

The Story of Momotaro (The Peach Boy), A

by Hishikawa Harunobu

     Part of a triptych (left). Depicting moment when Momotaro returns with treasures after slaying demons on the island of Onigashima.

The Story of Momotaro (The Peach Boy), B

by Hishikawa Harunobu

     Part of a triptych (center). Depicting moment when Momotaro returns with treasures after slaying demons on the island of Onigashima.

The Story of Momotaro (The Peach Boy), C

by Hishikawa Harunobu

     Part of a triptych (right). Depicting moment when Momotaro returns with treasures after slaying demons on the island of Onigashima.

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Depiction of an OffIcial Hearing at Fukiage, A

by Yōshū Chikanobu

     Part of a triptych (left). Two women (shogunal concubines?) are presenting a case to an official at Fukiage, a manor in the private section of Edo Castle.

Depiction of an OffIcial Hearing at Fukiage, B

by Yōshū Chikanobu

     Part of a triptych (center). Two women (shogunal concubines?) are presenting a case to an official at Fukiage, a manor in the private section of Edo Castle.

Depiction of an OffIcial Hearing at Fukiage, C

by Yōshū Chikanobu

     Part of a triptych (right). Two women (shogunal concubines?) are presenting a case to an official at Fukiage, a manor in the private section of Edo Castle.

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Parading of the Mochi, A

     Part of a triptych (left). Five ladies watching a festival procession pulling a float of giant rice cakes (kagami mochi, 鏡餅) for the New Year celebration. The three women on the right panel are older than the two women in the middle panel.This is indicated by their hairstyles. The two girls in the middle wear their hair in a chigo-mage (稚児髷) style, a style that was based on what boys wore in the Momoyama and Azuchi eras. This style was appropriate for girls aged 5-12 who lived and worked in the palace. Some of the dancers in the background wear symbols associated with the New Year, such as a tengu mask and a lobster.

Parading of the Mochi, B

     Part of a triptych (center). Five ladies watching a festival procession pulling a float of giant rice cakes (kagami mochi, 鏡餅) for the New Year celebration. The three women on the right panel are older than the two women in the middle panel.This is indicated by their hairstyles. The two girls in the middle wear their hair in a chigo-mage (稚児髷) style, a style that was based on what boys wore in the Momoyama and Azuchi eras. This style was appropriate for girls aged 5-12 who lived and worked in the palace. Some of the dancers in the background wear symbols associated with the New Year, such as a tengu mask and a lobster.

Parading of the Mochi, C

     Part of a triptych (right). Five ladies watching a festival procession pulling a float of giant rice cakes (kagami mochi, 鏡餅) for the New Year celebration. The three women on the right panel are older than the two women in the middle panel.This is indicated by their hairstyles. The two girls in the middle wear their hair in a chigo-mage (稚児髷) style, a style that was based on what boys wore in the Momoyama and Azuchi eras. This style was appropriate for girls aged 5-12 who lived and worked in the palace. Some of the dancers in the background wear symbols associated with the New Year, such as a tengu mask and a lobster.

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Spring-Colored Garden in Snow, A

     Part of a triptych (left). Thirteen women are playing or enjoying music in an interior scene. One woman is playing the koto (琴) (left), one is playing a transverse flute (middle), and one is playing an ichigenkin (一絃琴) or monochord (right). There is a gold-backed floral folding screen (byōbu; 屏風) in the back of the room featuring peony and a pheasant. The windows are open to show a winter garden landscape complete with plum blossoms (ume; 梅). This particular print makes a strong use of akaline red in the carpet and kimono of the women.

Spring-Colored Garden in Snow, B

     Part of a triptych (middle). Thirteen women are playing or enjoying music in an interior scene. One woman is playing the koto (琴) (left), one is playing a transverse flute (middle), and one is playing an ichigenkin (一絃琴) or monochord (right). There is a gold-backed floral folding screen (byōbu; 屏風) in the back of the room featuring peony and a pheasant. The windows are open to show a winter garden landscape complete with plum blossoms (ume; 梅). This particular print makes a strong use of akaline red in the carpet and kimono of the women.

Spring-Colored Garden in Snow, C

     Part of a triptych (right). Thirteen women are playing or enjoying music in an interior scene. One woman is playing the koto (琴) (left), one is playing a transverse flute (middle), and one is playing an ichigenkin (一絃琴) or monochord (right). There is a gold-backed floral folding screen (byōbu; 屏風) in the back of the room featuring peony and a pheasant. The windows are open to show a winter garden landscape complete with plum blossoms (ume; 梅). This particular print makes a strong use of akaline red in the carpet and kimono of the women.

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Cherry-blossom Viewing, A

     Part of a triptych (left). A group of court women are enjoying the cherry blossoms (sakura, 桜) on a spring day. Mt. Fuji (富士山) can be seen in the background. The women hail from the court of the Tokugawa shogunate shown by the repeating Tokugawa clan seal (mon, 紋) on the umbrellas (three hollyhock leaves inside of a circle). 16 women are pictured in total, and women in the middle and left panels seem to be playing a game together which involves being blindfolded.

Cherry-blossom Viewing, B

     Part of a triptych (center). A group of court women are enjoying the cherry blossoms (sakura, 桜) on a spring day. Mt. Fuji (富士山) can be seen in the background. The women hail from the court of the Tokugawa shogunate shown by the repeating Tokugawa clan seal (mon, 紋) on the umbrellas (three hollyhock leaves inside of a circle). 16 women are pictured in total, and women in the middle and left panels seem to be playing a game together which involves being blindfolded. The Chiyoda Inner Palace (Chiyoda no Ōoku) series of 1895-1896, together with his 1897 series Chiyoda Outer Palace (Chiyoda no on-omote) provided detailed depictions of life in and around Edo Castle before the Meiji Restoration of 1868. In the Chiyoda Inner Palace set, Chikanobu documented various annual ceremonies in the women’s quarters, especially those at New Year’s, and seasonal activities, particularly those conducted in the palace gardens. While Chikanobu did not indicate specific events or name certain people that would link these images to a single date or time period, the scenes give an overall impression of what the shogun’s private quarters might have looked like in the mid-19th century.

Cherry-blossom Viewing, C

     Part of a triptych (right). A group of court women are enjoying the cherry blossoms (sakura, 桜) on a spring day. Mt. Fuji (富士山) can be seen in the background. The women hail from the court of the Tokugawa shogunate shown by the repeating Tokugawa clan seal (mon, 紋) on the umbrellas (three hollyhock leaves inside of a circle). 16 women are pictured in total, and women in the middle and left panels seem to be playing a game together which involves being blindfolded. The Chiyoda Inner Palace (Chiyoda no Ōoku) series of 1895-1896, together with his 1897 series Chiyoda Outer Palace (Chiyoda no on-omote) provided detailed depictions of life in and around Edo Castle before the Meiji Restoration of 1868. In the Chiyoda Inner Palace set, Chikanobu documented various annual ceremonies in the women’s quarters, especially those at New Year’s, and seasonal activities, particularly those conducted in the palace gardens. While Chikanobu did not indicate specific events or name certain people that would link these images to a single date or time period, the scenes give an overall impression of what the shogun’s private quarters might have looked like in the mid-19th century.

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