100 Aspects of the Moon (Tsuki hyakushi)

One Hundred Aspects of the Moon - Considered his masterwork, Yoshitoshi's series One Hundred Aspects of the Moon features one hundred oban size woodblocks, published by Akiyama Buemon between 1885 and 1892. These quiet and reflective prints, beautifully composed and drawn, feature subjects from traditional Japanese and Chinese history and legend, rendered with great sensitivity and emotion. The moon appears in all but a few prints, providing a unifying motif for the series.

Yoshitoshi's innovative designs for the Moon series are often elegantly spare, with simple backgrounds that focus attention on the human figure. He combines the western influences of realism and perspective with qualities from traditional Japanese and Chinese painting, such as the emphasis on calligraphic brushstroke. The figures are carefully drawn with beautiful linework, conveying a real sense of individual character, gesture, and emotion. Special printing techniques such as embossing and burnishing add a sumptuous touch where appropriate, but simple subjects are conveyed in a likewise manner, no less carefully observed.

Prints from the series were released singly or in groups every few months, with the final image completed shortly before Yoshitoshi's death. The series proved tremendously popular, with patrons lining up to purchase the new releases as soon as they became available. Today, One Hundred Aspects of the Moon remains Yoshitoshi's most well-known work, characterized by his artistry, compassion, and sensitivity in portraying the human experience.

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About the Artist(s)

• Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839 - 1892)

Other Related Articles

• General Index

Prints from this Series

Click on any image below to zoom in on the image.

The Courtesan Takao	Chang E Flees to the Moon	Rising Moon Over Mount Nanping
The Gion District	Shadows of the Pine Branches	The Village of the Shi Clan on a Moonlit Night
Inaba Mountain Moon	Moonlight Patrol	Mountain Moon After Rain
Moon of Pure Snow at Asano River	Cooling Off at Shijo	Moon Above the Sea at Daimotsu Bay
The Cry of the Fox	As the Moon Shines Serenely	Mt. Yoshino Midnight Moon
The Moon Glimmers	The Moon at High Tide	An Iron Cauldron and the Moon at Night
The Moon of Ogurusu in Yamashiro	Suzaku Gate Moon	Itsukushima Moon
Moon and Smoke	Faith in the Third-day Moon	Moon of the Pleasure Quarters
Gravemarker Moon	Cassia Tree Moon	The Moon of Yamaki Mansion
Chikubushima Moon	The Yugao Chapter from "The Tale of Genji"	The Moon Through a Crumbling Window
Mount Ji Ming Moon	Kitayama Moon	Dawn Moon of the Shinto Rites
The Moon's Inner Vision	Mount Otowa Moon	Takakura Moon
A Glimpse of the Moon	Moon Capital	Inamura Promontory Moon at Daybreak
The Moon of the Milky Way	Moon Over the Pine Forest of Mio	Moon of the Enemy's Lair
Theater District Dawn Moon	Akazome Emon Viewing the Moon	Hazy Night Moon
Bon Festival Moon	Glimmering Whiteness	Huai River Moon
Streetwalker in Autumn Moonlight	The Moon and the Helm of a Boat	Lady Gosechi
Mount Tobisu Dawn Moon	Sumiyoshi Full Moon	The Night is Still
The Full Moon Coming with a Challenge	Gen'i in Thought	Reading by the Moon
Yorimasa Watches the Monster Approach	Spirit of the Plum Tree	Received Back into Moon Palace
Gojo Bridge Moon	Moon of Enlightenment	The Moon of the Moor
Nakamaro Views the Moon in China	Katada Bay Moon	Shizu Peak Moon
Joganden Moon	Moon of the Southern Sea	Seson Temple Moon
Mount Ashigara Moon	Ishiyama Moon	Mount Miyaji Moon
Jade Rabbit	Lady Chiyo	Moon Through a Bamboo Lattice Window
Shinobugaoka Moon	Lunacy - Unrolling Letters	Rainy Moon
Dawn Moon and Tumbling Snow	Moon of the Filial Son	Moon of the Red Cliffs
Moon of the Third Hour	Summer Night Moon	Cloth Beating Moon
Moon of the Lonely House	Think of Love	Moon of Kintoki's Mountain
Under the Moonflower Bower	Horin Temple Moon	Kazan Temple Moon
Musashi Plain Moon	Monkey Music Moon	A Buddhist Monk Receives Cassia Seeds on a Moonlit Night
Moon on the Sumida River	The Moon's Invention	Chofu Village Moon
The Moon and the Abandoned Old Woman	The Moon's Four Strings	Saga Moor Moon
Since the Crescent Moon