What Is 100 Views of Mount Fuji

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Last updated: April 12, 2026

Quick Answer: One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku hyakkei) is a series of three illustrated books created by Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai, published between 1834 and 1849. This monumental work contains over 100 woodblock prints and paintings showcasing Mount Fuji from diverse perspectives, seasons, and atmospheric conditions, establishing Hokusai as a master of Japanese ukiyo-e art.

Key Facts

One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji was published in three volumes: the first two in 1834-1835 and the third in approximately 1849, following Hokusai's famous Thirty-six Views series
The series contains over 100 individual prints and paintings, compared to the 46 prints in the earlier Thirty-six Views series
Hokusai created the work in his seventies and eighties, demonstrating his mastery and continued innovation in landscape art and composition
The first two volumes were celebrated for extremely fine woodblock cutting with exquisite gradation (bokashi) techniques, representing a masterpiece of monochrome printing
The series was published by Nishimuraya Yohachi and Nishimura Sukezo, with woodblocks cut by the workshop of Egawa Tomekichi

Overview

One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji, known in Japanese as Fugaku hyakkei (富嶽百景), is a remarkable series of three illustrated books created by the legendary Japanese ukiyo-e artist Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849). This monumental work stands as one of Japan's most exceptional illustrated books and represents the culmination of Hokusai's artistic genius during his most prolific period. The series was created following his earlier famous work, the Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, which had achieved great commercial and critical success.

Published between 1834 and 1849, this ambitious collection demonstrates Hokusai's unwavering dedication to depicting Mount Fuji from countless perspectives and in various artistic styles. The work showcases the artist's remarkable ability to reimagine a single subject through different seasons, weather conditions, atmospheric effects, and human activities, establishing him as one of the most influential artists in Japanese history and a major influence on Western impressionist painters.

How It Works

The One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji series is organized as a comprehensive collection showcasing diverse interpretations of the iconic mountain. Understanding the structure and methodology behind this work reveals Hokusai's innovative approach to landscape art and documentation.

Volume Structure: The series consists of three separate illustrated books, with the first two volumes published in 1834–1835 and the third volume appearing in the late 1840s, likely around 1849, creating a multi-year artistic journey
Woodblock Printing Technique: Each print was meticulously created using traditional Japanese woodblock printing methods, with separate blocks carved for different colors and designs, allowing for precise gradation and fine detail
Compositional Variety: Hokusai employed multiple compositional styles including pure landscapes, botanical and zoological studies, religious and mythological scenes, and intimate depictions of ordinary people engaged in daily work and commerce
Seasonal Progression: The prints capture Mount Fuji across all seasons and weather conditions, from snow-covered peaks to spring blossoms, summer storms, and autumn mists, demonstrating the mountain's transformation throughout the year
Perspective Innovation: The artist experimented with various viewing angles, perspectives, and distances, presenting the mountain from nearby villages, distant towns, water-based viewpoints, and elevated positions, creating visual and conceptual variety throughout the collection

Key Details

The production and characteristics of One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji reveal important information about this masterwork's creation, publication, and artistic significance in both Japanese and world art history.

Aspect	Details	Significance	Impact
Publication Dates	Volume 1: 1834, Volume 2: 1835, Volume 3: ~1849	Created when Hokusai was 74–89 years old, proving his continued vitality and innovation	Demonstrates artistic longevity and mastery in advanced age
Total Views	Over 100 woodblock prints and paintings across three volumes	Nearly double the 46 prints in the earlier Thirty-six Views series	Established comprehensive visual documentation of Mount Fuji
Printing Style	Monochrome and color woodblock prints with exceptional gradation (bokashi)	First two volumes celebrated as masterpieces of fine cutting and printing precision	Set new standards for woodblock printing quality and technique
Publishers	Nishimuraya Yohachi and Nishimura Sukezo; blocks cut by Egawa Tomekichi's workshop	Collaboration with master craftspeople and publishers ensured high quality	Demonstrated importance of skilled collaboration in fine art production

The artistic execution of One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji represents an extraordinary achievement in woodblock printing technology and composition. Hokusai's meticulous attention to detail, combined with innovative use of light and shadow, color gradation, and perspective, created images that transcended traditional landscape painting conventions. The collection demonstrates his deep understanding of human activity within natural landscapes, as he frequently depicted farmers, fishermen, travelers, and merchants interacting with their environment while Mount Fuji appears in the background, connecting the human world to the eternal presence of the sacred mountain.

Why It Matters

Artistic Innovation: The series pushed the boundaries of what was possible in woodblock printing, introducing new techniques for color gradation, perspective, and compositional variety that influenced artists for generations to come
Cultural Significance: As a comprehensive visual document of Mount Fuji and Japanese life during the Edo period, the work serves as an invaluable historical record of landscape, daily activities, fashion, architecture, and social customs
International Influence: The series, along with the Thirty-six Views, profoundly influenced European impressionist and post-impressionist painters, including Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, and other Western artists who discovered Japanese art in the mid-19th century
Artistic Legacy: Hokusai's work established the foundation for modern landscape art and demonstrated that repetition and variation of a single subject could yield infinite creative possibilities and artistic depth
Museum Recognition: Today, the series is housed in major international museums including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, and other prestigious institutions, recognizing its supreme artistic and historical importance

One Hundred Views of Mount Fuji remains one of the most celebrated and influential works of Japanese art ever created, continuing to captivate audiences and inspire artists more than 180 years after its publication. Hokusai's masterwork transcends the boundaries between fine art and commercial illustration, proving that accessible, popular art can achieve the highest levels of creative and technical excellence. The series exemplifies the artist's philosophy of continuous learning and improvement, as he himself noted his artistic development progressed throughout his long life, reaching its fullest expression in these remarkable later works that combine technical mastery with profound artistic vision.