Genroku Era painting
- Gallery: Room 93
- Culture: Genroku Era
- Made in: Japan
- Date: 1688-1704
- Object type: painting, handscroll
- Materials: paper
- Museum number: 1881,1210,0.1709
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
Listen to the free audio guide
About this object
Before you is a handscroll painting from the Genroku Era of Japan, approximately 1688–1704. It captures a lively festival procession at Fujinomori Shrine, featuring samurai on horseback, on foot, and three portable shrines called mikoshi. The scroll uses delicate ink, vibrant colors, and gold on fragile paper, crafted in the refined Kano School style.
This detailed scene shows a grand parade with costumed figures, including warriors in armor, priests carrying sacred objects, and ornate processions moving along a street. At the center are three mikoshi, followed by decorated horses and spectators watching from nearby homes.
The artwork focuses on the energy and pageantry of the procession, with lively movement and rich decoration. It’s a rare example of a regional festival depicted in historical Japanese art, offering a glimpse into local traditions of the time.
See it in person
Genroku Era painting is on display in Room 93 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and take a photo of it to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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