In ukiyo-e, what is the term for a 'picture book'?

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In ukiyo-e, the term for a picture book is Ehon.

Ehon, also written e-hon, literally refers to Japanese picture books and can specifically describe illustrated woodblock-printed volumes of the Edo period, from 1603 to 1867. These books were designed to be viewed as much as read: images were paired with short captions, poems, or essays in elegant calligraphy.

Early ehon were generally monochrome, but color-printing techniques expanded their visual richness during the eighteenth century. Ukiyo-e artists contributed illustrations, artist manuals, model books, and picture collections, allowing their designs to circulate beyond individual loose prints.

Manga is not the best answer here. In the Edo period, the word could mean informal or spontaneous drawings; its modern association with comics developed later. Sumi-e means ink-wash painting, while ukiyo-e names a broader art movement and print culture rather than the specific book format.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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