1820-50 Naniwa Yūmei Shōkyoku Zu (Illustrated Map of Famous Places and Routes of Japan)
DESCRIPTION
This expansive woodblock map presents Japan in a long horizontal format typical of Edo period travel maps. The country is shown as a continuous landscape of mountains, rivers, towns, and coastal routes, with hundreds of place names carefully labeled across the archipelago. Provinces are identified throughout, while major cities such as Kyoto, Osaka, and Edo appear prominently, underscoring their political and commercial importance within the Tokugawa road network.
The map places strong emphasis on overland travel routes linking the major regions of the country. Roads wind through mountain passes and across river valleys, connecting castle towns, post stations, temples, and shrines. Small ships appear in the surrounding seas, indicating maritime travel between coastal ports and islands. The composition blends geography with a pictorial style that portrays terrain through stylized mountain ranges, rivers, and coastal landscapes.
Produced as a woodblock print for travelers and the general public, the map belongs to a popular genre of Edo period travel guides. Pilgrimages, trade, and official journeys along routes such as the Tōkaidō created steady demand for maps that illustrated the country’s roads and notable destinations. The dense labeling and continuous landscape form a visual guide to the geography and travel networks of early modern Japan.
NOTE: We can have this map professionally linen backed for an additional $200. This would flatten any folds and provide long-term preservation and durability.
CONDITION
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