About This Print
Depicting Monkey Bridge (saruhashi), this print, as marked in the lower left margin, is number two of twenty-eight prints from the series Views of the Famous Sights of Japan (Nihon meishō zue) issued by the publisher Matsuki Heikichi in 1896 and 1897. (For additional information on this series see the article Views of the Famous Sights of Japan.)For another view of this bridge see the print Kai Province: Monkey Bridge from the series Nihon chishi ryakuzu (Simple Illustrations of Places in Japan).
The bridge is built over a narrow ravine, with four stacked haneki, or cantilevered members, embedded to the rock wall of both banks. The structural support is similar to architectural roofing.
The construction year is unknown, but there are records of this bridge style existing in 1676. The oldest estimation is that it was completed over 500 years ago. The bridge was restored in 1984.
The bridge's name comes from a tale about the original construction of the bridge when a group of monkeys (saru) descended upon the partially completed bridge and used their bodies to span the incomplete sections, forming their own bridge.
last revision:
Saruhashi
Saruhashi is one of "Japan's Three Odd Bridges." It is 33 meters high, 3.3 meters wide and 31 meters long.The bridge is built over a narrow ravine, with four stacked haneki, or cantilevered members, embedded to the rock wall of both banks. The structural support is similar to architectural roofing.
The construction year is unknown, but there are records of this bridge style existing in 1676. The oldest estimation is that it was completed over 500 years ago. The bridge was restored in 1984.
 Albumen hand-colored print image source: Syracuse University Art Museum 1987.248 |  |
The bridge's name comes from a tale about the original construction of the bridge when a group of monkeys (saru) descended upon the partially completed bridge and used their bodies to span the incomplete sections, forming their own bridge.
Print Details
| IHL Catalog | #1840 |
| Title or Description | Monkey Bridge 猿橋 Saruhashi |
| Series | Views of the Famous Sights of Japan Nihon meishō zue 日本名勝図会 |
| Artist | Kiyochika Kobayashi (1847-1915) |
| Signature |  |
| Seal | kiyo 清 and chika 親 [see above] |
| Publication Date |  |
| Publisher |  松木平吉 大平 [Marks: seal not shown; pub. ref. 029] |
| Impression | excellent |
| Colors | excellent |
| Condition | fair - full size; not backed; light wrinkling throughout; paper tear/loss lower right repaired verso; soiling |
| Genre | ukiyo-e meisho-e |
| Miscellaneous |  |
| Format | vertical oban |
| H x W Paper | 14 1/4 x 9 1/2 in. (36.2 x 24.1 cm) |
| H x W Image | 13 3/16 x 8 1/2 in. (33.5 x 21.6 cm) |
| Literature | |
| Collections This Print | Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art S2003.8.1214; tMuseum of Fine Arts, Boston 52.278; National Diet Library 寄別1-9-2-5 |
8/8/2021
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