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This is Ukiyo

Kitao Shigamaza, Picnic under cherry tree, Woodblock Print, Japan, Edo Period, Harvard Art Museum - [1933.4.2434](https://hvrd.art/o/207048)

Kitao Shigamaza, Picnic under cherry tree, Woodblock Print, Japan, Edo Period, Harvard Art Museum - 1933.4.2434

This object is a picnic set, known in Japanese as sagejūbako (提げ重箱). While the idea of a box made up of different compartments to contain food (jūbako 重箱) had existed for centuries and had been a constant presence in the dowries of feudal families, the appearance and use of carriable meal boxes with a handle is tied to the rise of a new social class in 17th century Japan, made up of the merchant class who lived and worked in the cities (chōnin 町人).

In fact, the Edo Period (1603-1868) saw a growth of urban centers: cities like Osaka and Kyoto counted about three hundred thousand people, while Edo (today’s Tokyo) had a population of one million. It was in these urban centers that a new culture arose, created by the chōnin, a lively culture of escapism, in which the wealthy merchant classes could take pleasure in the cities’ theatres and red light districts: essentially anything related to the ukiyo (浮世), the “floating world”, a world of fleeting and ephemeral pleasure, which could be derived by inebriation due to drinking sake, by a particular natural phenomenon, such as the blooming of flowers, or simply by the company of others.

The idea of ukiyo was described in 1661 by the author Asai Rōi as follows:

living only for the moment, savouring the moon, the snow, the cherry blossoms, and the maple leaves, singing songs, drinking sake, and diverting oneself just in floating, unconcerned by the prospect of imminent poverty, buoyant and carefree, like a gourd carried along with the river current: this is what we call ukiyo.

This picnic set is tied to this lifestyle: the chōnin carried such objects with them on their outings, usually on picnics in natural settings or during festivals, in order to relish the beauty of each season’. They enjoyed viewing flowers in spring and the red leaves of trees in autumn, and sharing food and drinks while in the company of others.

The sagejūbako used for outings and picnics are usually made up of standard components: an outer structure with a handle, one or two bottles for drinks, several food containers, a serving platter, individual plates and cups. The sagejūbako we see here does not include the individual plates and cups. This might be due to loss or just wear and tear: it is not unusual for a few components to be missing with this type of object. After all, who hasn’t lost a plate or a cup while on a picnic?