Glossary of Terms

Haboku: in monochrome ink painting, the "flung-ink" technique.

Hachimaki: the cloth headband worn in preparation for strenuous activity.

Hachiman: Shintô deity, god of war.

Haiga: painting plus haiku.

Haikai: a short verse form, limited to 17 syllables arranged in the pattern of 5-7-5, brought to perfection by Matsuo Basho (1644-1694). At present, haiku is the more popular term for this type of verse, haikai the more academic.

Haiku: see haikai.

Hakkake: the technique of overprinting.

Hakma: wide trousers.

Hako-ya: a servant who accompanies a geisha.

Han Shan (Japanese--- Kanzan): one of two (the other is Shih Te) Chinese comic sages and practitioners of Ch'an Buddhism who lived in a Chinese monastery in the 7th century. They are regarded as incarnations of Bodhisattvas.

Hanami: flower viewing, usually cherry blossoms; a popular leisure time activity.

Hanga: woodblock print.

Hanga-shi: engraver.

Hankoku: a reprint.

Hanshita-e: the finished drawing of a print that is pasted on a block of wood to be carved to produce the keyblock.

Haori: a coat worn over a kimono.

Happi: a short jacket.

Harimaze: prints of two or more subjects on one sheet.

Hasegawa: the school of painting founded by Hasegawa Tôhaku, who claimed artistic descent from Sesshû. This school was an outgrowth of Muromachi suiboku painting. The style of the later members can hardly be distinguished from contemporary Kanô painting.

Hashira-e: pillar print or painting. A long, narrow picture sized 27-1/2 to 29-1/2 x 4-3/4 to 6 inches (70-75 x 12-15 cm) and hung on an interior post as a decoration.

Heian: early name of Kyôto and of the historical period 794-1185.

Heiji Monogatari: the story of the Heiji insurrection in 1159, which began the struggle between the Taira and Minamoto families. hibachi ceramic, metal, or wood brazier in which charcoal is burned to warm a room.

Hexaptych: a continuous series of six prints.

Hibachi: a charcoal brazier.

Hideyoshi (Toyotomi Hideyoshi; 1536-1598): military dictator. Born a peasant, served Oda Nobunaga, and in 1582 became ruler of Japan.

Hikite-jaya: a teahouse in the pleasure quarter.

Hina: a doll.

Hinawa: tug of war.

Hiragana: one of the two phonetic Japanese scripts.

Hori (-bori): carving, chiseling, or engraving of lacquer.

Hosho: a handmade paper used for color prints.

Hosoban: a narrow vertical print sized 13 x 5-5/8 inches (33 x 14.5 cm).

Hyogo: a port now part of Kobe.