What is a significant fact about The Great Wave?
The Great Wave uses a blue pigment imported from Prussia, but it was actually painted between 1830-32 during Sakoku, a period of time when Japan was secluded from the rest of the world.One of the reasons for the success of The Great Wave in Japan was that it was printed in a new and exotic color, unknown to Japan prior to this work. It had a distinctive saturated hue, it was synthetic and obviously imported from Europe, since we recognize it today as the Prussian or Berlin blue.Hokusai may have wished to depict a fear of and respect for the ocean with this play on perspective. Mount Fuji holds religious/sacred significance in Japan. The Great Wave is best thought of as a large, rogue wave or perhaps as a mythical event, a "yarn" told by sailors.

What does the wave symbolize in The Great Wave : The wave is about to hit the boats as if it were a huge monster, which seems to symbolize the indescribable strength of nature and the weakness of human beings. In the print, the japanese painter conceived the big wave and the distant Mount Fuji in terms of geometric language.

What are 3 facts about waves

All waves have the same measurable characteristics. The highest part of a wave is the crest; the lowest part is the trough. The vertical distance between the wave crest and trough is the wave height. The amplitude of the wave is half of the wave height.

Why do people love The Great Wave : “Many people view the painting as the very essence of Japanese culture,” Atsuko Okuda, chief curator of the Sumida Hokusai Museum in Japan, told CNN's Dan Tham and Junko Ogura in 2019. “The simple and powerful composition of the mountain and the shape of the wave strikes right at the heart of the observer.”

The wave (known as a Mexican wave or stadium wave outside of North America) is a type of metachronal rhythm achieved in a packed stadium when successive groups of spectators briefly stand, yell, and raise their arms. Immediately upon stretching to full height, the spectator returns to the usual seated position.

While Hokusai did not portray a tsunami, just seriously large breaking waves, his image had long been read as a visualization of the terrors of the sea, with the serene majesty of Mount Fuji—symbol of the nation—calmly positioned in the distance.

Is The Great Wave a tsunami

While Hokusai did not portray a tsunami, just seriously large breaking waves, his image had long been read as a visualization of the terrors of the sea, with the serene majesty of Mount Fuji—symbol of the nation—calmly positioned in the distance.Key Takeaways:

  • 01The Ocean is Home to Countless Waves.
  • 02Waves Can Travel Great Distances.
  • 03The Sound of Waves is a Traveler.
  • 04Waves Can Be Giant Walls of Water.
  • 05An Electromagnetic Spectrum of Waves.
  • 06Waves Can Be Measured.
  • 07The Surfing Culture Revolves Around Waves.
  • 08Waves Can Transmit Energy.

Tsunami facts for kids

  • Tsunami is a Japanese word that means 'Harbour Wave'.
  • Approximately 80% of tsunamis happen inside the Pacific Ocean's 'Ring of Fire'.
  • An earthquake or volcano could cause a tsunami.
  • Tsunamis can go about as fast as 500 miles (805 kilometres an hour), nearly the same speed as a jet plane.


The Great Wave off Kanagawa is one of the most iconic pieces of Japanese art history. Take a closer look for details on Hokusai's printed masterpiece.

What is the value of The Great Wave : $2.76 million

A rare print of “The Great Wave off Kanagawa,” one of art history's most iconic images, fetched a record $2.76 million at a Christie's auction in New York on Tuesday. The 14.6-inch-wide artwork is now the most expensive piece by Japanese printmaker Katsushika Hokusai ever to go under the hammer, the auction house said.

How famous is The Great Wave : Only about 100 prints, in varying conditions, are thought to have survived. The Great Wave off Kanagawa has been described as "possibly the most reproduced image in the history of all art", as well as being a contender for the "most famous artwork in Japanese history".

What was the biggest wave in history

Lituya Bay in Alaska is known for the largest recorded wave, with a towering height of 1,720 feet triggered by a massive landslide in 1958, causing extensive devastation. Teahupo'o in Tahiti is famous for its incredibly large and powerful waves, reaching up to 20 feet high, attracting many experienced surfers.

Lituya Bay, Alaska, July 9, 1958

Its over 1,700-foot wave was the largest ever recorded for a tsunami. It inundated five square miles of land and cleared hundreds of thousands of trees. Remarkably, only two fatalities occurred.1,720 feet

Lituya Bay in Alaska is known for the largest recorded wave, with a towering height of 1,720 feet triggered by a massive landslide in 1958, causing extensive devastation. Teahupo'o in Tahiti is famous for its incredibly large and powerful waves, reaching up to 20 feet high, attracting many experienced surfers.

What is an interesting fact about The Great Wave off Kanagawa : The Great Wave off Kanagawa is a part of a series of woodblock prints produced to illustrate the beauty of Mount Fuji. The Fujiyama holds a very special place in Japan. It is their tallest mountain and most sacred. Located close to the Eastern sea coast, it is visible as travellers trailed the Tokaido.