To understand Chinese/Japanese painting, we must understand that it is a kind of writing, with a symbolic meaning for all forms, colors, and objects (e. g., a bud means the future). The East Asian feels this is more essential than simply art, especially as expressed in Chinese/Japanese ideograms (writing). Japanese woodcuts started in 740 AD, reached their zenith in the 18th century Ukiyo pictures of Japanese daily life, especially the 35,000 (!) made by Hokusai. Utamaro was another well-known woodcutter who made many pictures of silk production, insects, birds, and beautiful women.