Greeting the Rising Sun on New Year's Day

Art Historical Context

**Greeting the Rising Sun on New Year's Day** *oda Koryusai, c. 1774* Color woodblock print; *hashira-e*; 70.9 × 12.1 cm. Art Institute of Chicago, Arts of Asia. Isoda Koryusai, a prominent ukiyo-e artist of Japan's Edo period (1603–1868), a joyful New Year's ritual in this vibrant *hashira-e*—a tall, narrow wood print designed to hang gracefully on pillars or narrow walls. The slender format (about 28 inches high but only 4¾ inches wide) highlights elegant figures greeting the dawn, evoking the cultural reverence for Oshogatsu, Japan's New Year, when families welcomed the rising sun as a symbol of renewal and good fortune. Printed in rich colors using intricate woodblock techniques, where separate blocks were carved for each hue and layered precisely, this work exemplifies ukiyo-e's ("pictures of the floating world") mastery in depicting everyday beauty and seasonal traditions. Koryusai's delicate lines and harmonious palettes bring the festive scene to life, reflecting 18th-century urban life in Edo (modern Tokyo). As a pillar print, it was an affordable luxury for homes, blending artistry with cultural devotion in a format both intimate and striking.