The Myoken Hall of the Hosshoji Temple at Yanagishima

About this work

This drawing shows a busy temple hall with people walking around. Hokusai used fine lines and shading to make the space feel real and alive. The lines are so precise you can almost hear the quiet footsteps. This is one of Hokusai’s early works. He signed it “Shunro” before he became famous. The hall honored Myoken, a Buddhist deity many people in Edo worshipped. Look up Katsushika Hokusai if you want to see more of his temple scenes.