One Hundred Aspects of the Moon
Chang’e Flees to the Moon
嫦娥奔月 · Jōga hongetsu
Tsukioka Yoshitoshi · 1885
What it is
The Chinese moon goddess Chang’e rises through cloud toward the moon, the stolen elixir of immortality in her hands, robes and ribbons streaming behind her.
Why it matters
From the first year of the series, and its reach declared at once: the hundred moons will not stay in Japan — they take in China’s oldest lunar legend, the woman who became the moon’s only resident.
What to notice
Nothing anchors her — no ground line anywhere in the sheet; the composition is all rising curve, drawn so the eye ascends with her and cannot find a way back down.
"Immortality is a long way from home."
The record
- Artist
- Tsukioka Yoshitoshi 月岡芳年 (1839–1892)
- Series
- One Hundred Aspects of the Moon
- Date
- 1885
- Publisher
- Akiyama Buemon
- Medium
- woodblock print; ink and color on paper
- Source
- Wikimedia Commons · Chang'e flees to the moon by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi.jpg
Impression note. The design is carried by the swirl of drapery and cloud: fine impressions keep the long ribbon-lines of her robes unbroken through their full curves and grade the surrounding cloud softly — the ascent should feel weightless, not cut out. Impression variance is real — printings differ in wiping and fading — and choosing the finest openly held impression is the curatorial act.
Public domain; faithfully reproduced.
Bring it home
Printed to order on EMA matte art paper, 200gsm.
From the same series
One Hundred Aspects of the MoonThe Cry of the FoxTsukioka Yoshitoshi · 1886 · from $69.00
One Hundred Aspects of the MoonMusashi Plain MoonTsukioka Yoshitoshi · 1892 · from $69.00
One Hundred Aspects of the MoonMoon above the Sea at Daimotsu Bay — BenkeiTsukioka Yoshitoshi · 1886
One Hundred Aspects of the MoonThe Moon at Ishiyama — Murasaki ShikibuTsukioka Yoshitoshi · 1889The road at your moment — Painted Earth’s ukiyo-e style pack.