Ukiyo-e

The term Ukiyo-e means images from the floating world. The word Ukiyo initially referred to the Buddhist idea that life and the material world were ephemeral. It seems rather ironic that the term referring to the Buddhist philosophy of not becoming overly attached to the material world would then be used in this art that is very much about the material world. The Ukiyo-e images of the floating world were celebrations of the joys of life for these newly wealthy people.