Byodo-in Temple in Uji-Renge near Kyoto
Artist: Kawase Hasui
Name: Byodo-in Temple in Uji-Renge near Kyoto
Date: 1933
Description: Original Japanese woodblock print by Hasui, Kawase (1863-1957). Left wing of the Byodo-in Temple in Uji-Renge near Kyoto. Date: 1933 (early edition). Publisher: Watanabe. Signature: Hasui with Sui-seal. Size: c. 10.04 x 14.96 inches (25,5 x 38 cm), oban. Documentation: Kawase Hasui: The Complete Woodblock Prints, Hotei, 2003 Byodo Temple, formerly the villa of Fujiwara-no-Michinaga, was converted into a temple by his son, the Kanpaku (Imperial Regent), Fujiwara-no-Yorimichi, in 1052, during the glory period of the Fujiwara family. Phoenix Hall was built in the following year. A National Treasure, it is the only building dating back to the time of the temple’s establishment. Its graceful appearance conjures up a paradise dreamed of by the Heian aristocracy. The garden, designated as a special place of scenic beauty, is a relic of the Heian Period. This majestic garden centers around Phoenix Hall and incorporates the surrounding natural scenery, including the clear water of the Uji River and the mountains in front.