Exploring Japanese Landmarks in Nishiki-e and Photographs

Meguro

The name of a region on both sides of the middle of the Meguro-gawa River. There were open fields that spread on both banks, a plateau with a gently inclined slope at an elevation of 25-30m to the south of the river, and a steep hill with a height difference of 30-45m to the north called Yodobashidai. The residence of the head of the Shimabara Clan, Matsudaira Tonomonokami, where Chiyogaike was located, and the tea shop Jijigachaya were located in the southwest of Yodobashidai, and from on top of the sheer plateau, one could look out over Meguro-gawa River and the plains, and it was a popular spot for its amazing views of Mt. Fuji.

Nishiki-e and Paintings

東都目黒夕日か岡

名所江戸百景　目黒爺々が茶屋

名所江戸百景　目黒千代か池

東都目黒夕日か岡

東京名所三十六戯撰

Meguro no Fuji

One of the public religions that was established during the Edo Period was "Fujiko" which is a religious organization for the worship of Mt. Fuji. The religion gathered many followers to with promises that one could be reborn to a rich and noble status by achieving noble deeds, that one could recover from illness by reciting prayers, and that one could gain good fortune through the miraculous burning of charms in "taki age" ceremonies. As part of the practice of the religion, believers would participate in group climbs of Mt. Fuji as devotees, but for those who could not climb Mt. Fuji, a Fujizuka (mound made in the image of Mt. Fuji) was constructed. Meguromotofuji and Shinfuji were examples of these, with the former being organized in 1812 by a Fujiko director called Iemon who became an adherent, and the latter built in 1819 by the northern explorer, Shomotsu Bugyo (official in charge of managing documents) and bibliographer Kondo Juzo at his villa which stood in this area. Both spots were extremely popular on the yamabiraki (opening of the mountain to those wishing to climb it) on June 1st, and became one of Edo's meisho (famous place).

Nishiki-e and Paintings

名所江戸百景　目黒新富士

名所江戸百景　目黒元不二

Taiko-bashi Bridge / Gyonin-zaka Hill

Heading from the direction of Ryusen-ji Temple (Meguro Fudo) and crossing over the Taiko-bashi Bridge which spans the Meguro-gawa River, then climbing the approximately 140m long steep slope Gyonin-zaka Hill, on the top of the hill past Myo'o-in Shrine, Daien-ji Temple on the right side, there was a tea house on the left side. Taiko-bashi Bridge was completed at the end of the Kyoho Era (1716-1736) by Mokujiki Shonin, with the assistance of merchants from Hacchobori. The origin of the name of Gyonin-zaka Hill was that a gyonin (ascetic) named Daikai Hoin from Mount Yudono, one of the Three Mountains of Dewa, began to practice his ascetic training here, and soon many other people ascetics gathered and began to live here as well. Daien-ji Temple is said to have been the source of the Big Fires of Meguro Gyoninzaka in 1772, which were one of the Three Great Fires of Edo, and in 3 directions around the interior of the temple grounds a Shaka Sanzon statue (statue of Shakyamuni flanked by two attendants) and approximately 520 stone statues of the 500 Rakans were carved over 50 years as a memorial for the dead of the fires.