Daimyo Procession to Edo 1690 - 1710

This long scroll painting, by an artist of the Hishikawa School, depicts a Daimyo Procession to Edo. The work gives insight into the social and political environment of Japan. This painting documents the elaborate journeys that feudal lords, known as Daimyo, were required to make to Edo, present-day Tokyo, under the Tokugawa Shogunate's policy of alternate attendance. This system was a means of central control, compelling lords to spend time in Edo, effectively as hostages. The procession, captured here, visually asserts power, with each element reflecting the strict social hierarchy of the time. From the attire of the retainers to the emblems carried, every detail reinforces the Daimyo's status. Understanding this artwork means delving into the history of the Tokugawa Shogunate, exploring records of the period and analyzing other visual representations of these processions. Through such historical context, we can better appreciate how art serves as a mirror, reflecting the structures of its own time.