Sanjusangendo Shoka (Sanjusangendo Temple at Early Summer)

Very peaceful woodblock print "Sanjusangendo Shoka"(Sanjusangendo Temple at Early Summer) is by Takeji Asano. This is one of "Kyoraku Meisho" (Famous Places of Kyoto) series. Titled "Sanjusangendo Shoka"(Sanjusangendo Temple at Early Summer), Dated "Showa 30nen" (1955) and "Takeji ga, koku" (Drawn and carved by Takeji) on the lower right of image.

Takeji started to work for this "Kyoraku Meisho series" (12 designs) in 1955.
Very serene early summer scene at Sanjusangendo Temple. Fresh green colors are so precious.

There is original folder. Please see last pictures. However, it is in poor condition. If you wish, I can send original folder with print. Shipping charge will be slightly more.

Technique: Woodblock
Paper size: 10 and 1/2 x 11 and 3/4 inches (26 x 29.5cm )
Image size: 9 and 5/8 x 10 and 7/8 inches (24 x 27.5cm )
Sheet number: N/A
Date: 1955
Signed: Black Takeji signature in lower left of image with red seal.
Condition: Excellent condition. Faint ink smudges on margin and slight toning on lower right margin as shown. They are not noticeable. Once tipped on verso.

Sanjusangendo is the popular name for Rengeo-in, a temple in eastern Kyoto which is famous for its 1001 statues of Kannon, the goddess of mercy. The temple was founded in 1164 and rebuilt a century later after the original structure had been destroyed in a fire.

The temple hall is with 120 meters Japan's longest wooden structure. The name Sanjusangendo (literally "33 intervals") derives from the number of intervals between the building's support columns, a traditional method of measuring the size of a building. In the center of the main hall sits a large, wooden statue of a 1000-armed Kannon (Senju Kannon) that is flanked on each side by 500 statues of human sized 1000-armed Kannon standing in ten rows.