Sites of interest and scenery in the Kyoto-Osaka Area in the early modern era: Focusing on Miyako meisho-zue and Settsu meisho-zue edited by Akizato Ritō

Abstract

This research examined two works compiled by Akizato Rit̄ (alt. Akisato Rit̄), Miyako meisho-zue (An Illustrated Guide to Noted Places in the Capital) and Settsu meisho-zue (An Illustrated Guide to Noted Places in Settsu Province). The former was a guide to sites of interest primarily in Kyoto while the latter described sites of interest in Settsu Province and Osaka. This research had two aims. The first was to clarify how Akizato Ritō perceived the places that he selected and symbolized as 'noted places' The second was to clarify how Akizato viewed cities and how Kyoto and Osaka were represented in guides to sites in those cities. Akizato perceived places and symbolized those places while keeping in mind the goal of depicting places and scenes in illustrations. Although he selected traditional, long-celebrated sites of interest, he also selected places and scenery of interest from a positivist perspective based on firsthand observations. Akizato's view of cities was based on an identity and perspective as a Kyoto resident that developed at the end of the 18thcentury. Kyoto's image as the 'Emperor's Capital' was emphasized and the city was presented as a hallmark of tradition and sightseeing by illustrations depicting sites such as temples and shrines and manufacturing unique to Kyoto. Osaka's port and canals were often depicted in illustrations, and the city's image as Japan's first commercial city was emphasized. Osaka was presented as a city for popular entertainment in forms such as kabuki.