Utagawa Hiroshige (Japanese, 1797-1858). <em>Benkei Moat From Soto-Sakurada to Kojimachi, No. 54 from One Hundred Famous Views of Edo</em>, 5th month of 1856. Woodblock print, Sheet: 14 5/16 x 9 5/16 in. (36.4 x 23.7 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Anna Ferris, 30.1478.54 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 30.1478.54_PS20.jpg)

Benkei Moat From Soto-Sakurada to Kojimachi, No. 54 from One Hundred Famous Views of Edo

Artist:Utagawa Hiroshige

Medium: Woodblock print

Geograhical Locations:

Dates:5th month of 1856

Dimensions: Sheet: 14 5/16 x 9 5/16 in. (36.4 x 23.7 cm) Image: 13 3/8 x 8 3/4 in. (33.9 x 22.2 cm)

Collections:

Exhibitions:

Accession Number: 30.1478.54

Image: 30.1478.54_PS20.jpg,

Catalogue Description:
The inner moat of Edo Castle, now known as Sakurada Moat was formerly known as Bankei Moat. The steep embankment to the right was the southwest perimeter of the castle. The red-gated mansion in the upper left was that of Ii Naosuke, lord of Hikone, one of the shogun's closest political advisers, who was assassinated in 1860 by a group of anti-foreign samurai. The site of the mansion is now occupied by a park containing the Parliamentary Museum and the Diet Building, which before the war was the General Staff Office of the Imperial Japanese Army. The daimyo mansions in the distance, formerly military facilities, are now the Supreme Court and the National Theater. This print is among the more unusual in this series as there is no commoner activity represented, but rather a display of shogunal power.

Brooklyn Museum