One Hundred Famous Views of Edo No.32Yanagishima

Yanagishima (“willow island”) got its name from the multitude of willow trees were to be found here. Several canals which connected the westerly flowing Sumida River and the easterly flowing Naka River crisscrossed in this neighbourhood. At Yanagishima, a canal (Kita Jikken Gawa) joined with another (Yoko Jikken Gawa) in a slightly distorted T-shape, and at the southwest corner of the intersection was a temple, Myokendo. In this print, the temple is shown on the left surrounded by a red fence.
The principal image enshrined there was Myoken Dai Bosatsu, a Buddhist saint who was believed to possess the power of preventing disasters, securing happiness and improving longevity. In the temple compound was a huge pine tree, about 14 metres tall, and it was said that the principal image descended on this pine tree. Thus the tree was referred to as the image welcoming tree. The fact that Iyeyasu Tokugawa once visited here and appreciated the tree enhanced the popularity of the temple. Although it is located in a desolate place a bit far from the centre of Edo city, the temple attracted a great number of visitors from the city. Among them were many artists, one being Hokusai Katsushika, a famous landscape painter and senior to Hiroshige. Hokusai was said to have had faith in Myoken Dai Bosatsu and was so inspired by the image that one day he changed his name according to instructions given by the image. Next to Myokendo temple stood a restaurant Hashimoto which provided beautiful views surrounding it. Two roofed boats can be seen on the canal, bringing visitors to the temple as well as the restaurant.
In the far distance in the middle of paddy field lies the village of Koume (see No. 104).
Above the cloud on the left is Mt. Tsukuba.