Mii Temple, from the series "Eight Views of Omi (Omi hakkei)"
early 19th century
Medium
Color woodblock print; surimono
Dimensions
13.5 × 17.8 cm (5 3/8 × 7 1/16 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
81658
Art Historical Context
This delicate color woodblock print by Ryuryukyo Shinsai captures Mii Temple, one of the eight celebrated scenic views of Omi Province near Lake Biwa. Created in the early 19th century as part of the series “Eight Views of Omi,” the work draws on a long-standing Japanese artistic tradition inspired by Chinese landscape poetry. The theme invites viewers to appreciate the temple’s serene setting through subtle seasonal and atmospheric details rather than dramatic narrative. Printed as a surimono—a privately commissioned format prized for its refined quality—the piece measures just 13.5 × 17.8 c...