| Japanese prints sizes |
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Japanese woodblock prints have been traditionally made in specific sizes and
formats based on the typical dimensions of Japanese handmade paper called o-bosho.
There is no exact standard for a large o-bosho sheet since papermakers used slightly different recipes and moulds.
(approximate is 53 cm x 39 cm.)
The various formats of Japanese prints were cut from a piece of o-bosho sheet to reduce.
The most common print size was the oban format (which used half of a large o-bosho sheet).
The orientation of the prints are denoted by the terms tate-e ('vertical picture) and yoko-e (horizaontal picture).
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| Print size |
size (cm) |
size (in) |
notes |
| oban |
26.5 x 39 |
10.7 x 15.6 |
1/2o-bosho sheet |
| chuban |
19.5 x 26.5 |
7.5 x 10.7 |
1/2oban size |
| yotsugiri |
19.5 x 13.25 |
7.5 x 5.8 |
1/2chuban size |
| chutansaku ban |
39 x 13.25 |
15.6 x 5.8 |
narrow format similar to hosoban |
| otansaku ban |
39 x 17.6 |
15.6 x 6.7 |
1/3 o-bosho sheet |
| choban |
19.5 x 53 |
7.5 x 20.7 |
1/2 of o-bosho sheet |
| kokonotsugiri ban |
13 x 17.6 |
5.1 x 6.7 |
1/9 of o-bosho sheet |
| shikishi ban |
19.5 x 17.6 |
7.5 x 6.7 |
square format, also known as kukuban |
| diptych |
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2 obanprints placed horizontally together |
| triptych |
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2 oban prints placed horizontally together |
| pentatych |
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2 oban prints placed horizontally together |
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Oban |
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(Approximately 26.5cm x 39cm)
Below is an example of o-ban vertical and o-ban horizontal.
Oban is made by cutting a piece of Obosho vertically (see top image).
It was the most commonly used format. |
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