{{Short description|Scenic views of Ōmi Province, Japan, by Hiroshige}}
{{Infobox artwork | image_file = Hiroshige Full moon over a mountain landscape.jpg | image_size = 340px | title = The autumn moon at Ishiyama | alt = | other_language_1 = | other_title_1 = | other_language_2 = | other_title_2 = | artist = [[Hiroshige]] | year = | height_metric = | width_metric = | height_imperial = | width_imperial = | metric_unit = cm | imperial_unit = in | city = | museum = }}
'''''The Eight Views of Ōmi''''' (in Japanese: 近江八景 or ''Ōmi hakkei'') are traditional scenic views of [[Ōmi Province]] which is now [[Shiga Prefecture]] in Japan.
They were inspired by the ''[[Eight Views of Xiaoxiang]]'' in China which were first painted in the 11th century and then brought to Japan as a popular theme in the 14–15th centuries. The theme was then used to describe Ōmi province in poetry by [[Konoe Masaie|Prince Konoe Masaie]] and his son, [[Konoe Hisamichi|Prince Hisamichi]], in the 15–16th centuries. The ''Eight Views of Ōmi'' then became a popular subject for artists such as [[Suzuki Harunobu]] and [[Utagawa Hiroshige]]. The theme continued to develop, being transposed to other locations and settings in a process which the Japanese called ''[[mitate-e|mitate]]'',<ref name=Hockley>{{citation |title=The Prints of Isoda Koryūsai: Floating World Culture and Its Consumers in Eighteenth-century Japan |first=Allen |last=Hockley |publisher=University of Washington Press |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-295-98301-1 |chapter=''Hakkei Series: A Case Study'' |page=55}}</ref> such as in Harunobu's ''[[Zashiki Hakkei]]'' series.
The sights were depicted by [[Hiroshige]] in several different series of [[ukiyo-e]] pictures, as well as other artists.<ref name="shiga">{{cite web |url=http://www.pref.shiga.jp/profile/hakkei/ |script-title=ja:美しい滋賀県 |year=2012 |publisher=Shiga Prefecture |location=Ōtsu, Shiga Prefecture, Japan |language=Japanese |trans-title=The Beauty of Shiga Prefecture |accessdate=Nov 13, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120524031442/http://www.pref.shiga.jp/profile/hakkei/ |archivedate=2012-05-24 }}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Japan |title=Ōmi Hakkei |url=http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |accessdate=2012-11-13 |year=2012 |publisher=Shogakukan |location=Tokyo |oclc=56431036 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825113418/http://rekishi.jkn21.com/ |archivedate=2007-08-25 }}</ref>
They are sometimes erroneously called "Eight Views of [[Lake Biwa]]", but the latter were defined to include different locations in 1949 by the government of [[Shiga Prefecture]].<ref name="shiga" /> The eight themes remain unchanged from the Chinese series: Returning sails, descending geese, autumn moon, evening bells, evening glow, evening snow, evening rain, and clearing weather.
== The Eight Views == All views are situated at the southern end of Lake Biwa. There is no fixed order. The following list circles the lake, beginning on the east side. *'''Returning sails at Yabase''' ({{transliteration|ja|Yabase no kihan}} {{lang|ja|矢橋帰帆}}). [[Yabase]] is an old harbor on the east side of the lake. Near the [[Tōkaidō (road)|Tōkaidō]], it was used as a shortcut to [[Ōtsu]] by boat. In the early Meiji era steamers appeared, until the railway began its service. *'''Evening glow at Seta''' ({{transliteration|ja|Seta no sekishō}} {{lang|ja|瀬田夕照}}) – [[The Chinese Bridge at Seta]]. The long bridge across the Seta River was used by the Tōkaidō. Nowadays is there a bridge in the old Chinese style, a concrete construction, but nice to walk over. (Road traffic uses a new bridges to the north). In the background is the "Fuji of Ōmi" [[Mount Mikami]]. It is just above 400 meters tall, but indeed well visible. *'''Autumn moon at Ishiyama''' ({{transliteration|ja|Ishiyama no shūgetsu}} {{lang|ja|石山秋月}}) – [[Ishiyama-dera|Ishiyama Temple]]. The {{transliteration|ja|Ishiyama-dera}} was located on a hillside next to the [[Yodo River|Seta River]]. It got his name from the strange rocks on which it is built, partly on supporting beams. A hut at the upper end of the site allows a view of the lake and of the moon. *'''Clear breeze at Awazu''' ({{transliteration|ja|Awazu no seiran}} {{lang|ja|粟津晴嵐}}) – [[Awazuhara]]. Awazu is well known for its pine wood, Awazu-ga-hara. In some pictures the [[Zeze Castle]] can be seen. It was dismantled in the Meiji era. *'''Evening bell at Miidera''' ({{transliteration|ja|Mii no banshō}} {{lang|ja|三井晩鐘}}) – [[Mii-dera]]. Miidera temple was built in the 8th century. Its bell is one of the "Three bells of Japan", the other two being those at [[Byōdō-in]], Uji and at [[Jingo-ji]], Kyoto. *'''Evening rain at Karasaki''' ({{transliteration|ja|Karasaki no yau}} {{lang|ja|唐崎夜雨}}) – Karasaki Shrine. Karasaki is a small cape with a single large pine tree, a hitsu-matsu. The pine has been replaced several times since Hiroshige's era. *'''Wild geese returning home at Katata''' ({{transliteration|ja|Katata no rakugan}} {{lang|ja|堅田落雁}}) – [[Ukimido]]. Alighting geese cannot be seen always, however the little temple near Katata in the square hōkyō-style, detached from the lakeside, connected by a bridge. The first part of the name ''uki'' is the same as in Ukiyo-e, meaning ''floating''. Midō means temple. *'''Evening snow at Hira''' ({{transliteration|ja|Hira no bosetsu}} {{lang|ja|比良暮雪}}) – [[Hira Mountains]]. The Hira Mountains on the west side of the lake experience the hard winter, when the winter monsoon brings much snow from the continent.
== Other Eight views == Hiroshige alone produced nearly 20 different series "Omi hakkei". Other artists followed. To please everybody, "Eight views of" were created for many parts of Japan, e.g. using surroundings of Edo. A series called "Eight views of Kanazawa"<ref>Not to be mixed up with the city of Kanazawa, Ishikawa Pref.</ref> reflects a bay near Yokohama.
== ''From the Eight Views of Ōmi'' by Harunobu (c. 1760) ==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="230"> Suzuki Harunobu (c. 1760) Ōmi Hakkei no Uchi - Yabase Kihan.jpg|Yabase (矢橋帰帆) Suzuki Harunobu (c. 1760) Ōmi Hakkei no Uchi - Seta Sekishō.jpg|Seta (勢多夕照) Suzuki Harunobu (c. 1760) Ōmi Hakkei no Uchi - Ishiyama Shūgetsu.jpg|Ishiyama (石山秋月) Suzuki Harunobu (c. 1760) Ōmi Hakkei no Uchi - Awazu Seiran.jpg|Awazu (粟津晴嵐) Suzuki Harunobu (c. 1760) Ōmi Hakkei no Uchi - Mii no Banshō.jpg|Mii Temple (三井晩鐘) Suzuki Harunobu (c. 1760) Ōmi Hakkei no Uchi - Karasaki Yau.jpg|Karasaki (唐崎夜雨) Suzuki Harunobu (c. 1760) Ōmi Hakkei no Uchi - Katada Rakugan.jpg|Katata (堅田落雁) Suzuki Harunobu (c. 1760) Ōmi Hakkei no Uchi - Hira Bosetsu.jpg|Hira Mountains (比良暮雪) </gallery>
== Ukiyoe pictures by Hiroshige == Hiroshige designed the following [[ukiyo-e]] pictures:
<gallery mode="packed" heights="130"> File:Hiroshige Boats on a lake.jpg|Yabase (矢橋帰帆) File:Hiroshige View of a long bridge across a lake.jpg|Seta (勢多夕照) File:Hiroshige Full moon over a mountain landscape.jpg|Ishiyama (石山秋月) File:Hiroshige A road beside a lake with some boats.jpg|Awazu (粟津晴嵐) File:Hiroshige Evening view of a temple in the hills.jpg|Mii Temple (三井晩鐘) File:Hiroshige Heavy rain on a pine tree 2.jpg|Karasaki (唐崎夜雨) File:Hiroshige Fishing boats on a lake.jpg|Katata (堅田落雁) File:Hiroshige Omi Hirai.jpg|Hira Mountains (比良暮雪) File:Hiroshige, A mountain in the snow.jpg|Hira Mountains (A predrawing by Hiroshige) File:Kanazawa Shugetsu.jpg|Full moon in Hiroshiges Kanazawa series </gallery>
== See also == * [[Eight Views]] * [[Eight Views of Xiaoxiang]] * [[Eight Views of Taiwan]] * Eight Views of [[Jinzhou (Dalian)]] * Eight Views of [[Lushun South Road]], [[Dalian]] * Eight Views of Korea * [[Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji]], by [[Hokusai]] and [[Hiroshige]]
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category|Eight Views of Ōmi}} * [https://www.hiroshige.org.uk/Views_Of_Omi/Views_Of_Omi.htm Eight Views of Omi [hiroshige.org.uk<nowiki>]</nowiki>] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_-fT3p5QRw&t=61s David's Choice – Episode #8] Video on the Eight Views by [[David Bull (craftsman)]] (33 mins)
{{Hiroshige}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eight Views of Omi}} [[Category:Shiga Prefecture]] [[Category:Print series by Hiroshige]] [[Category:Eight Views]]