We introduce below tools to search for ukiyo-e illustrations by artist and other criteria.
The call number of the National Diet Library is in brackets 【 】 following the bibliographic information. For the materials accessible on the open shelves in each specialized materials room, the following code addresses are fixed after the call number.
Humanities: Humanities Room, Tokyo Main Library
Kansai: General Collections Room, Kansai-kan
Items not especially described are all in the closed stacks of the Tokyo Main Library.
Contents
1. Searching by Author
2. Searching by Title
3. Searching by Theme
4. Internet Image Databases
5. About the Nishiki-e Collections of the National Diet Library
1. Searching by Author
- National Diet Library Digital Collections (Rare Books and Old Materials)
Almost all the nishiki-e (colored woodblock prints) collected by the National Diet Library are of the Edo period and have been digitized and they are publicly available on the Internet.
Illustration indexes of various complete art collections are as follows. One can research things such as in what complete works collection the illustration has been collected, whether the illustration is in black and white or color, etc.
- Ukiyo-e refarensu jiten (An Ukiyo-e Reference Dictionary)
(Nichigai Associates, 2010 【KC1-J5】 Humanities - Kansai)
An illustration index of 73 titles of complete art collections with 25,612 collected and cataloged illustrations. - Ukiyo-e bijutsu zenshuu sakuhin gaido (Guide to Complete Collections of Ukiyo-e Art Works)
This is an index of approximately 1,500 items and 8,000 illustrations representing 81 artists from the Edo to the Meiji period. Works selected and cataloged include 110 titles of complete art collections published from 1945 to 1991. - Nihon bijutsu sakuhin refarensu jiten. kaiga hen, ukiyo-e (A Reference Dictionary of Japanese Artworks. Paintings volume, ukiyo-e)
This is an index of approximately 13,500 items and 22,000 illustrations representing 700 artists from the Edo to the Meiji period. Works selected and cataloged include 110 titles of complete art collections published from 1945-1991. There is an "Artist Name Index" at the back of the book. - Nihon bijutsu sakuhin refarensu jiten. Dai-ni-ki kaiga hen (kinsei izen - ukiyo-e - kingendai) (A Reference Dictionary of Japanese Artworks. 2nd Period Paintings volume, ukiyo-e (pre-early modern period, ukiyo-e, modern period))
The sequel to the preceding book. Works selected and cataloged include 29 titles of complete art collections published from 1991-2006.
The search method for works of individual painters is as follows:
- NDL-OPAC
Select "Book" from the materials options on the "Detailed Search" screen, and input the artist's name into the author column. - Gashu gabunshu zenjoho (Complete Information on Painting and Painting with Prose Anthologies)
Gashu shashinshu zenjoho (Complete Information on Painting and Photograph Anthologies) 1991-96
This is a catalog of painting anthologies and illustrated books published in Japan. Government Publications and private publications are also covered.
2. Searching by Title
- National Diet Library Digital Collections (Rare Books and Old Materials)
Almost all the nishiki-e collected by the National Diet Library in the Edo period have been digitized and they are publicly available on the Internet.
Illustration indexes of various complete art collections are as follows. One can research things such as in what complete works collection the illustration has been collected, whether the illustration is in black and white or color, etc.
- Nihon bijutsu sakuhin refarensu jiten. kaiga hen, ukiyo-e (A Reference Dictionary of Japanese Artworks. Paintings volume, ukiyo-e)
This is an index of approximately 13,500 items and 22,000 illustrations representing 700 artists from the Edo to the Meiji period. Works selected and cataloged include 110 titles of complete art collections published from 1945-1991. - Nihon bijutsu sakuhin refarensu jiten. Dai-ni-ki Kaiga hen (kinsei izen - ukiyo-e - kingendai) (A Reference Dictionary of Japanese Artworks. 2nd Period volume, ukiyo-e (pre-early modern period, ukiyo-e, modern period))
The sequel to the preceding book. Works selected and cataloged include 29 titles of complete art collections published from 1991-2006.
3. Searching by Theme
For nishiki-e with Edo period manners and customs as the theme, please refer to the search guide, "Illustrations that Show the Everyday Life of the Common People in the Edo Period".
The following are reference books with indexes searching by theme.
- Genshoku ukiyoe dai hyakka jiten (Encyclopedia of Full-color Ukiyo-e)
Volume 4, "Depicted Subjects", includes commentaries on themes in the fields of setsuwa (tales), densetsu (legends), and drama, as well as 431 illustrations by theme and one can search illustrations by proper name with the index at the back of the book.
Volume 5, "Customs", assembles 552 illustrations depicting customs pertaining to the four seasons, events, daily life, and pastimes, and has an "Item Index by Classification" at the back of the book.
The back of Volume 11 has a general index for illustrations anthologized in all of the volumes. In addition to the items detailed in the subject index, one can look up illustrations from fields such as fine art drawings, portraits of kabuki actors, etc.
The method for searching art anthologies (exhibition catalogs, etc.) by theme is as follows:
- NDL-OPAC
Input "浮世絵 画集(which means Ukiyo-e Anthologies)" into the "Subject" column on the "Detailed Search" screen, input keywords into the "Title" column, and search. - Gashuu gabunshu zenjouhou (Complete Information on Painting and Painting and Prose Anthologies)
Gashu shashinshu zenjouhou (Complete Information on Painting and Photograph Anthologies) 1991-96
4. Internet Image Databases
The following are typical websites:
- National Diet Library Digital Collections (Rare Books and Old Materials)
Of the nishiki-e at this library, almost all are from the Edo period and digitized images are publicly available on the Internet. - TOKYO Archives
(Tokyo Metropolitan Library) (http://archive.library.metro.tokyo.jp/da/searchDetail?category=浮世絵)
- Painting and Ukiyoe Database
The nishiki-e of the Art Research Center, Ritsumeikan University, the National Diet Library and Itoi Collection in Maizuru City are searchable and available. - Edo-Tokyo Museum Collection Search
Go to "Category" and select "Painting and Print" then "Print" and then "Full-Color Print (nishiki-e)". - "Ukiyoe Viewing System" Image Database of Ukiyoe Collection owned by the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum
- Shizuoka Prefectural Central Library Digital Library
In the "Detailed Search" - Historiographical Institute, The University of Tokyo Database
From the "Database List", select "Image Data" and then "Database of the Nishikie". One can search the nishiki-e collections of the Historiographical Institute, the Yokohama Archives of History, and the Shizuoka Prefectural Central Library, however, only images in the collection of the Historiographical Institute can be displayed. - The Nishiki-e Database
This database has subject and content classifications. - Ukiyo-e Caricatures
- Hagi Uragami Museum Collection Search System Ukiyoe
5. About the Nishiki-e Collections of the National Diet Library
As most of the nishiki-e of the National Diet Library have been inherited from the Imperial Library of Japan, they are housed in the Tokyo Main Library Rare Books and Old Materials Room. In addition, nishiki-e are included in a portion of the Eiryo Ashihara Collection, superintended by the Tokyo Main Library Humanities Room.
These nishiki-e have already been digitized and these digital images can be seen on screen via the National Diet Library Digital Collections (Rare Books and Old Materials).