The renowned woodblock print The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai will be the centerpiece of an upcoming exhibition at the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum in Chiayi County, set to begin at the end of this month. On loan from the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum, the iconic piece will be displayed from May 30 to June 29 as part of a three-month exhibition titled The Beauty of the Floating World in Edo.
The print, created between 1831 and 1833, is one of the most recognizable works in Japanese art. It depicts towering waves seemingly poised to engulf fishing boats beneath the tranquil backdrop of Mount Fuji. According to Chu Lung-hsing, an associate researcher and curator at the museum, the print exemplifies a “harmony between movement and stillness.”
In 2024, the artwork was selected as the main image for a new ¥1,000 banknote issued by the Bank of Japan, further cementing its status as a symbol of Japanese art.
The exhibition will showcase 218 pieces highlighting the vibrant culture of Edo-period urban life. These include folding screens, hand scrolls, prints, and illustrated books, with works loaned from some of Japan’s most prestigious cultural institutions, including the Idemitsu Museum of Arts, Waseda University Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum, Kuboso Memorial Museum of Arts, Tokyo Metropolitan Library, Tokyo Fuji Art Museum, and the National Museum of Japanese History.
The display will be divided into four thematic sections: River Prosperity, Urban Times, Travel Fun, and Cross-cultural Exchange. While The Great Wave off Kanagawa will be on display until June 29, the full exhibition will run through August 31, with rotating works to ensure fresh experiences for returning visitors.
Regular admission to the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum is NT$150 for all visitors.
