{"product_id":"bijin-urashima-and-the-seven-fortune-beings-totoya-hokkei","title":"Bijin Urashima and the Seven Fortune Beings - Totoya Hokkei","description":"\u003cp\u003eA refined surimono woodblock print by Totoya Hokkei, featuring a woman in the guise of the legendary fisherman Urashima Taro, surrounded by symbols of the Seven Fortune Beings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Totoya Hokkei is a fine example of surimono, a genre of privately commissioned prints often distributed among poetry circles. Hokkei, a pupil of Katsushika Hokusai, adopted his master's attention to detail while developing a distinct approach to composition and narrative. The work depicts a bijin, or beautiful woman, who adopts the guise of Urashima Taro, the legendary fisherman from Japanese folklore. She is shown with a fishing rod and a sea bream, symbols associated with the tale of Urashima and the god Ebisu.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition incorporates elements related to the Shichi-fuku-jin, or Seven Fortune Beings. In the background, a hanging scroll displays the image of Fukurokuju, a deity of longevity, accompanied by a deer. Below, small figures play in a domestic setting, grounding the mythological references within a contemporary Edo-period interior. The inclusion of a turtle, another symbol of longevity and a central figure in the Urashima myth, adds a layer of visual storytelling to the scene.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHokkei uses a refined colour palette and precise line work, characteristic of the high-quality production standards required for surimono. The print features calligraphic text, which likely includes kyoka, a form of humorous or satirical waka poetry popular among the literati of the time. The balance between the central figure and the surrounding symbolic objects demonstrates the artist's ability to weave complex cultural references into a single, cohesive image. This print serves as a window into the intellectual and artistic pursuits of the Edo period, where folklore and contemporary fashion intersected in the private sphere of the urban elite.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/view-of-tokyo-snow-scene-utagawa-hiroshige-ii\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eView of Tokyo, Snow Scene - Utagawa Hiroshige II — Utagawa Hiroshige II\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/yokkaichi-view-of-the-mie-river-utagawa-hiroshige-1\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eYokkaichi: View of the Mie River - Utagawa Hiroshige — Utagawa Hiroshige\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hokkei","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58729271263567,"sku":null,"price":37.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58729278013775,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58729278046543,"sku":null,"price":55.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58729278079311,"sku":null,"price":59.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58729278112079,"sku":null,"price":59.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58729278144847,"sku":null,"price":59.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58729278177615,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58729278210383,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58729278243151,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58729278275919,"sku":null,"price":99.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58729278308687,"sku":null,"price":99.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58729278341455,"sku":null,"price":99.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Bijin-Urashima-and-the-Seven-Fortune-Beings_Poster_CompositorV1_1788984037410.jpg?v=1788984645","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/bijin-urashima-and-the-seven-fortune-beings-totoya-hokkei","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}