Echizen Province: The Kehi Pine Grove at Tsuruga

A row of pine trees lines the bottom edge of the picture, which is thought to be Kehi Pine Grove. In the bay beyond, two sailboats advance, and many boats are gathered in the inlet in the middle. On the left shore are rows of houses and a beach with smoke rising, and green and gray mountains rise in overlapping layers behind.

The lower edge of the sky is dyed red to make the mountain ridges stand out sharply, and the sea expresses depth in gradations of indigo and light blue. Combined with the deep green of the pines in the foreground, this makes a picture of subdued tones.

Tsuruga was a port connecting the Hokuriku region with Kyoto and Osaka, and also prospered as a port of call for Kitamae-bune trading ships. Kehi Pine Grove was a pine grove regarded as the sacred precincts of Kehi Shrine, the chief shrine of Echizen, and has long been known as a scenic spot where pines line a white sandy beach. Goods were carried overland from Tsuruga to the north shore of Lake Biwa, then by boat across the lake via Otsu to Kyoto. The boats gathered in the inlet are thought to convey the bustle of this port.

The shapes of the mountains and the spread of the bay are based on the actual view, but exaggerations such as making the mountains look taller are thought to have been added. The National Diet Library also holds an impression with the same composition.