ギャラリー雅堂だより 2025年8月「白川の風」

 

 白川の風

白川は比叡山からにかけての谷が源流で、鴨川へと注ぐ小さな川です。

 平安時代、五山の送り火で知られる如意ヶ嶽あたりの源流から都へと運ばれてくる白砂の扇状地が白河上皇の院政の中心地となり、室町時代になると下流の白川沿いにはお茶屋が連なる祇園花街が形成されるなどして全国から人々が集まり政治・文化の発進拠点となっていきました。

 知恩院沿いを流れる柳並木の白川には、比叡山の回峰行を行う僧侶が京の街を走り抜ける時に渡る手すりのない行者橋と呼ばれる細い石橋があり、この作品はそのひとつ南の古門前通りから知恩院に架かる橋を描いたものです。

 井堂雅夫が木版画と出会いたくさんの作品を生み出せたのも、千年の昔から茶道や歌舞音曲などの発祥により磨き上げられてきた感性と技術の集積地であった京都だからこそであり、目にするもの手に取ったもの周りの何を見ても、そこにたくさんの物語がある京都の街の奥深さの中で暮らす贅沢を感じずにはいられません。

 Blog post

Aug. 2025

“Shirakawa Wind”

The Shirakawa River is a small river that originates in the valley stretching from Mount Hiei and flows into the Kamo River.

During the Heian period, the fan-shaped plain of white sand, which was carried there from the river's source near Nyoi-ga-take (famous for the Gozan no Okuribi, or Five Mountains Fire Festival), became the center of Emperor Shirakawa's government. During the Muromachi period, the Gion flower district formed along the lower reaches of the Shirakawa River. Ochaya, or geisha entertainment houses, lined the streets, attracting people from all over the country. The district became a hub for politics and culture.

The Shirakawa River, lined with willow trees, alongside Chion-in Temple, has a narrow stone bridge without handrails called Gyojabashi, which monks on their pilgrimage to Mount Hiei cross as they run through the streets of Kyoto. This work depicts the bridge that stretches from Furumonzen-dori Street, one street south, to Chion-in Temple.

It was precisely because Kyoto, a place that has been honed for a thousand years by the tea ceremony, dance, music, and other art forms, that Masao Ido encountered woodblock printmaking and was able to produce so many works. Living in Kyoto, where every sight, touch, and experience is filled with stories, we cannot help but feel a sense of luxury.

株式会社 雅堂

京都市北区平野宮屋敷町27

TEL 075-464-1655

FAX 075-464-0747

mokuhanga@gado.jp