A large exhibition of Japanese ukiyo-e masterpieces will be held at the Beijing World Art Museum from November 15 to December 12.

The exhibition will be hosted by the Chinese Association for International Understanding (CAFIU). The exhibits are provided by the Japan Ukiyo-e Museum.

Zhao Lei, vice secretary-general of the CAFIU said, the exhibition was part of the activities marking the 35th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic relations and the 2007 China-Japan Year of Culture and Sports Exchange, and would showcase a total of 100 ukiyo-e paintings, more than 40 of which are first to be shown beyond Japan.

Zhao said he hoped the exhibition could further promote understanding and friendship between the Chinese and Japanese peoples.

Ukiyo-e, literally meaning the pictures of the floating world, is the main artistic genre of woodblock printing in Japan. It mainly reflected the lives and pleasures of common Japanese people in Edo period from 1603 to 1867.

(Xinhua News Agency October 14, 2007)