Bai Juyi c. 1833

This woodblock print was created by Katsushika Hokusai in Japan. It depicts the Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi, known in Japan as Hakurakuten, arriving in Japan. Looking at the image, the figures are rendered with attention to detail, indicating social status through their clothing. Dominating the composition is the stylized depiction of the landscape, characteristic of ukiyo-e prints. This genre was largely targeted towards a middle-class audience, who were eager to consume imagery of both classical and contemporary subjects. The print suggests a connection between Japanese and Chinese culture, with a renewed interest in the Chinese classics during the Edo period. Historical and literary sources, like Bai Juyi's poetry, alongside studies of Edo period publishing, help us understand this print’s cultural significance. By examining these sources, we appreciate how Hokusai's art reflects and shapes cultural values.