Rakuhoku Zehn Ansichten: Kifune-Schrein(貴船神社) - Holzschnitt - Masao Ido 井堂雅夫 (1945-2016) - Japan - Heisei-Ära (1989–2019)

Ido Masao(井堂雅夫)
Heisei Ukiyo-e – Kyoto One Hundred Views, Vol. 3
Rakuhoku Ten Views: Kifune Shrine(貴船神社)
Woodblock print / Publisher: Kaneido

Nestled deep within the mountains north of Kyoto, beyond Kurama and along the clear waters of the Kifune River, Kifune Shrine is one of Kyoto’s most atmospheric and spiritually significant sacred sites. In this captivating work from his celebrated Kyoto Hyakkei series, Masao Ido masterfully portrays the shrine’s iconic approach in the rich colors of autumn, capturing both its natural beauty and its timeless spiritual presence.

Kifune Shrine is believed to have been founded over 1,600 years ago and has long been revered as the guardian shrine of water. Situated near the source of the Kamo River, which flows through the heart of Kyoto, it became a place of worship for those whose lives and livelihoods depended upon water—farmers, brewers, artisans, merchants, and travelers alike. Even today, Kifune Shrine is regarded as one of Japan’s most important shrines dedicated to the deity of water.

The shrine is also famous throughout Japan as a place associated with love and relationships. According to legend, the celebrated Heian-period poet Izumi Shikibu visited Kifune Shrine to pray for reconciliation with her husband, and her wish was fulfilled. Since then, the shrine has become a beloved destination for those seeking blessings for love, marriage, and meaningful human connections.

The scene depicted in this print features one of Kifune Shrine’s most recognizable landmarks: the vermilion torii gate and stone staircase leading into the sacred forest. Rows of traditional lanterns guide visitors upward, while vibrant maple leaves illuminate the mountainside in shades of crimson and gold. The composition draws the viewer naturally toward the ascending pathway, creating the sensation of entering a realm where the ordinary world gradually gives way to the divine.

What makes this work particularly compelling is Masao Ido’s ability to express the idea of transition. In Japanese spirituality, a torii gate marks the boundary between the human world and the sacred realm of the gods. Standing before this gate, one is not simply entering a shrine; one is crossing an invisible threshold into a space shaped by centuries of faith, prayer, and reverence for nature.

The contrast within the composition is equally striking. While the shrine entrance is vibrant and welcoming, the quiet village road on the right side of the image evokes a sense of everyday life continuing alongside the sacred. Traditional houses, stone walls, and narrow pathways remind us that Kifune is not merely a historic monument but a living community that has existed in harmony with its spiritual landscape for generations.

Among the many works in the Kyoto Hyakkei series, this print stands out as a powerful expression of Kyoto’s ancient relationship with nature and spirituality. Unlike the grand architecture of famous temples such as Kinkaku-ji or Kiyomizu-dera, Kifune Shrine represents an older, more elemental form of Japanese belief—one rooted in mountains, forests, rivers, and the unseen forces that inhabit them.

For centuries, countless pilgrims have climbed these stone steps carrying prayers, hopes, and gratitude. The atmosphere of devotion accumulated over generations remains palpable today, and Masao Ido succeeds in preserving that spirit within this remarkable composition.
[Size of the artwork]

Overall size
34.7×42.3cm
Picture
24.5×34.9cm


[Condition]
Excellent condition.

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