Mount Fuji as Art

The Japanese have developed a strong bond with Mount Fuji, and the history of Japanese art shows it. Of all works depicting the mountain, the oldest in existence is a drawing on a paper sliding door from the Heian period. It dates from the 11th century.

Fuji appears very often in art because it has long been admired, even revered, as a symbol of beauty. Examples include old e-maki monogatari (stories illustrated on hand scrolls), Fuji-sankei mandalas venerating the mountain, ukiyoe woodblock prints, paintings in the Japanese style, and handcrafts.