hakkei　八景

KEY WORD :　art history / paintings

Lit. eight views. Eight scenic spots from one geographic area specifically chosen to be treated in verse or pictures. The idea of designating a certain number of famous views is Chinese in origin, with the ten views of the West Lake (Jp: *Seiko 西湖) likely the earliest example. The most influential grouping of eight scenes are the eight Views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers (Jp: *Shoushou Hakkei 瀟湘八景) depicted first by Chinese painters (since 11c) and then in numerous Japanese versions. The first Japanese variation is the depiction of eight views of Oumi *Oumi Hakkei 近江八景 developed in the early 17c. In the Edo period, with increasing travel and tourism, many local gentry revived earlier literary references or designated their own hakkei. Among the best known are the eight views of Matsushima 松島, Fushimi 伏見, Saga 嵯峨, Akashi 明石, and, most famous, the eight views of Kanazawa *Kanazawa Hakkei 金沢八景. Eight views became a common theme in *ukiyo-e 浮世絵 painting and prints, with Edo and the *Yoshiwara 吉原 pleasure quarter thereof illustrated with their own hakkei . The eight views theme was parodied in the eight Views of a Pleasure-House *Zashiki Hakkei 座敷八景, in which domestic objects cleverly replace natural scenery.

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