Picture Book of the Pleasures of the East (Ehon azuma asobi 画本東都遊): [volume 1] 1797 - 1807

This page from Hokusai’s “Picture Book of the Pleasures of the East” depicts Shiba Shinmei Shrine, a place of spiritual recreation in Edo. The architecture and the gathering of people are the dominant visual symbols, conveying a sense of social harmony and religious devotion. The torii gates, though not explicitly shown, are implied by the shrine's entrance and the path leading towards it, resonating with similar gateways found across various cultures. The gates function as a symbolic transition from the mundane to the sacred, embodying a ritualistic passage. Compare this to the archways in Roman triumphal art, which similarly marked ceremonial entries, though for decidedly different purposes. The shrine, alive with figures, evokes a sense of communal spirituality, an echo of ancient rituals. The visual harmony achieved through the ordered composition touches something deep within our collective memory, stirring a sense of belonging and continuity. Hokusai masterfully captures the ephemeral nature of human experience, set against the timeless backdrop of spiritual practice. The symbol, a recurring motif across time, re-emerges, transformed yet still recognizable in its essence, underscoring the cyclical nature of cultural expression.