About This Print
One of 118 prints in the series Dai Nippon Bussan Zue (Products of Greater Japan), issued in August 1877 to coincide with the opening of Japan’s first National Industrial Exposition (Naikoku Kangyō Hakurankai) held in Tokyo’s Ueno Park. Iyo (伊予国, Iyo-no-kuni) was an old province of Japan in the area that is today Ehime Prefecture on Shikoku. Iyo bordered on Awa, Sanuki, and Tosa Provinces.
Brief Summary of Scroll
Harvesting "Gobou" (burdock root) in Iyo (Ehime prefecture). Some of them are about 120cm in length.
Gobo (burdock root) 牛蒡
This biennial herb grows up to 1.5 m tall and has large leaves that are dark green on the top and downy gray on the bottom. Flowers are purple and thistle-like with hooked bracts (burrs).
It has a thin, brown root with a distinct, earthy flavor. It is used in medicine in China, but in Japan it is treated as a vegetable, and is generally cut into thin strips or shavings and soaked in vinegar to remove bitterness before cooking. It is an excellent source of dietary fiber and nutrients, and therefore aids digestion and detoxification.
Transcription of Scroll
Source: with thanks to Yajifun http://yajifun.tumblr.com/Burdock Harvest in Iyo Province 伊豫國牛蒡堀之図
“牛蒡ハ諸國培養せざる処なしと？も（雖も）豫州各郡にて培養する物を第一等とす その大なる物四尺余にいたる 太きことさしわたし三四寸にあまる 和らかにしてその味ハひ尤佳なり”
Multiple Editions (Variant Printings)
At least three variant printings (editions) were made of this series. Each variant printing uses a different colored cartouche containing the series' title, either red, green or rainbow-colored. Different colored borders were also used and variances in the use of colors and shading are present in the three editions.
Print Details
| IHL Catalog | #326 and #326A |
| Title or Description | Burdock Harvest in Iyo Province 伊予国牛蒡堀之図 |
| Series | Dai Nippon Bussan Zue 大日本物産図会 (Products of Greater Japan) |
| Artist | Utagawa Hiroshige III (1842–1894) |
| Signature |  |
| Seal | none |
| Publication Date | 1877 (Meiji 10) |
| Publisher | Ōkura Magobei 大倉孫兵衛 (Kin'eido; 1843-1921) [Marks: pub. ref. 627] |
| Impression | IHL Cat. #326: fair IHL Cat. #326A: fair |
| Colors | IHL Cat. #326: excellent IHL Cat. #326A: excellent |
| Condition | IHL Cat. #326: good - vertical centerfold; minor offsetting of red ink IHL Cat. #326A: good - vertical centerfold; area of red rectangular offsetting left of top center |
| Genre | nishiki-e; kaika-e |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Format | chuban |
| H x W Paper | IHL Cat. #326: 6 7/8 x 9 5/16 in. (17.5 x 23.7 cm) IHL Cat. #326A: 6 7/8 x 9 7/16 in. (17.5 x 24 cm) |
| H x W Image | IHL Cat. #326: 6 3/8 x 8 13/16 in. (16.2 x 22.4 cm) IHL Cat. #326A: 6 3/8 x 8 13/16 in. (16.2 x 22.4 cm) |
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