help save Japan’s visual heritage of daily life
support
70614-0004 - Japanese Woman in Kimono Writing a Letter, 1890s

1890s
Woman Writing with Brush

Artist Kimbei Kusakabe
Publisher Unknown
Medium Albumen Print
Period Meiji
Location Studio
Image No. 70614-0004
Purchase Digital FilePrint
Author

A woman wearing a kimono is writing a letter with a brush.

A box to place brushes and sumi ink, and an andon lamp are on the tatami rice mats. In the back hangs a kakejiku hanging scroll .

The Japanese writing system was introduced to Japan from China in the 4th century AD. Initially, the Chinese characters were only used for reading and writing Chinese. Around the mid seventh century, or possibly earlier, a writing system was developed which used Chinese characters to represent the Japanese language. This was called Manyogana (万葉仮名). The name has been derived from the Manyoshu, a Japanese poetry anthology from the Nara Period (710-794).

The Meiji Period (1868-1912) saw a range of important transformations in the use of written Japanese. The Genbunitchi (言文一致) movement, for example, resulted in using a colloquial form to write. Previously, a classical style had been used. Additionally, in 1900 (Meiji 33), the Education Ministry standardized the hiragana script and limited the number of kanji (Chinese characters) taught in elementary schools to about 1,200.

More significant reform followed after the end of WWII, when conservatives were removed from control of the educational system. Undoubtedly, the most important reforms were limiting the number of kanji students learn at Japanese high-schools to just 1,850, and changing the direction from right-to-left to left-to-right.

Published
Updated

Leave a Comment

Reader Supported

Old Photos of Japan aims to be your personal museum for Japan's visual heritage and to bring the experiences of everyday life in old Japan to you.

To enhance our understanding of Japanese culture and society I track down, acquire, archive, and research images of everyday life, and give them context.

I share what I have found for free on this site, without ads or selling your data.

Your support helps me to continue doing so, and ensures that this exceptional visual heritage will not be lost and forgotten.

Thank you,
Kjeld Duits

support

Reference for Citations

Duits, Kjeld (). 1890s: Woman Writing with Brush, OLD PHOTOS of JAPAN. Retrieved on February 10, 2025 (GMT) from https://www.oldphotosjapan.com/photos/277/woman-writing-with-brush

Explore More

…

1920s
Woman with Hand to Chin

A young Japanese woman in kimono and traditional hairstyle is holding her hand to her chin, n apparently bashful gesture often seen on photos, illustrations and ukiyo-e (woodblock prints) from the Meiji and Taisho periods.

…

1880s
Beauties of the Bath

Japan’s bathing culture is considered quintessentially Japanese. No guide book of Japan is complete without instructions on how to take a bath. A short history.

…

Okayama 1935
School Girls Reading

Japanese school girls reading books.

Add Comment

have posted 70+ photographs on googles picasa website 1850 Photographs of China & Japan

·