【Outline of the Exhibition（Expected Exhibition Plan）】

Introduction: Putting on Flowers -------- Women in Kimono with a Flower Pattern

1, Gardening in Everyday Life--------- People in Edo Who Were Fond of Gardening
2, Flowers Blooming All Over--------Various Flowers and Plants depicted in Ukiyo-e Prints
3, Popular Character -Gardener ------- Gardener Appeared in the Role of Kabuki Play

4, Story Related with Flowerpots ---------Ukiyo-e Prints on Noh Drama Called “Tree in a Pot”

5, Gardening Hobby in the Tokugawa Family of the Kishū Province
6, Gardening Knowledge of Children ---------Toy Pictures depicted for Children

7, City of Edo filled with Flowers and Plants------Sightseeing Spots in Edo where Flowers
in All Seasons Bloom

【Main Attraction of the Exhibition】

①Edo Gardening Culture Marveled in the World

Many of you are supposedly interested in gardening or growing flowers and plants. However, did you know　that the gardening boom in the Edo period was bigger than the present one? Indeed people from the high ranks such as shoguns and feudal lords to the common people who lived in downtown all cultivated and appreciated flowers and plants eagerly. The Japanese people’s passion to flowers surprised the American botanist Robert Fortune as seen in his diary upon his visit to Japan in the late Edo period.

●Torii Kiyonaga
“Gardener from the series Beautiful Women of Edo “

-Women who are buying flowerpots from gardener

② New Challenge to Explore the Edo Gardening Culture Through the Works of Ukiyo-e Wood Block Prints

In the past, the Edo gardening culture has been researched from several academic fields such as history, folklore studies and botany. This has gradually revealed the whole picture of the gardening culture of the period. However, this subject has yet to be examined through the lens of ukiyo-e prints which were very familiar among the common people in the Edo period. This exhibition is a new challenge to explore the rich Edo gardening culture mainly by the works of ukiyo-e wood block prints.

Since the ancient days, Japanese people have loved the change of seasons and written poems on flowers of the wild. Over history flowers had become an integral part of people’s lives. During the peaceful Edo period, this tradition culminated into a “gardening culture” which permeated all social standings including court nobles, shoguns, feudal lords and the common people.

This exhibition is a new attempt to explore the Edo gardening culture, praised by the first foreigners who arrived to Japan, by means of ukiyo-e wood block prints. Please enjoy the very unique world of Edo gardening culture through ukiyo-e prints depicting the blooming flowers of all seasons.

●Utagawa Yoshiiku
“ Dyed Yukata : Coloring of Summer”

　-Gardener who is selling pink

●Kitagawa Utamaro　
“Sundial of Young Women: Hour of the Dragon (8am)”

-Women who are enjoying morning glory

People in the Edo period enjoyed their lives filled with flowers and plants. They bought flowerpots at the night stand of temple festivals and grew them with great care. Some people even devoted more time and passion to their plants more than to their profession. The ukiyo-e prints shed light on people of the Edo period who enjoyed gardening as a source of entertainment and relaxation.

●Utagwa Kuniyoshi “Chrysanthemum Grafted with One Hundred Varieties “

-Many people are gathering to see the flower festival of chrysanthemum

●Utagawa Yoshitora “ Rain of Pine from the series Zashiki Hakkei “

-Woman who is watering plants with the　watering can / Unusual scene with a depiction of the watering can

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In the Edo period, the culture of artisanal pottery flourished, producing many beautiful flowerpots which effectively played an important role in the gardening culture of the contemporary.

In this exhibition, valuable flowerpots with unique designs are displayed together with ukiyo-e prints depicting the same flowerpots. Comparing real flowerpots from the late Edo period to flowerpots in the ukiyo-e prints, you will feel the gardening culture of the Edo period more closely than ever.