Changes

Though prices varied widely, of course, over time, from place to place, and depending on the quality of the goods or other factors, the following figures might provide a rough idea of prices (i.e. the value of the ''ryô'') in the "high" Edo period (18th to early 19th centuries).

Though prices varied widely, of course, over time, from place to place, and depending on the quality of the goods or other factors, the following figures might provide a rough idea of prices (i.e. the value of the ''ryô'') in the "high" Edo period (18th to early 19th centuries).

*2 or 3 ''momme'' - a cheap ''[[ukiyo-e]]'' print<ref name=screech>Screech. p26.</ref>

*2 or 3 ''momme'' - a cheap ''[[ukiyo-e]]'' print<ref name=screech>Screech, "Owning Edo-Period Paintings." p26.</ref>

*20 ''momme'' - an ''ukiyo-e'' print of good quality.<ref name=screech/>

*20 ''momme'' - an ''ukiyo-e'' print of good quality.<ref name=screech/>

*32 ''momme'' - the cost of seeing a play at [[Ryogoku|Ryôgoku]] in 1820.

*32 ''momme'' - the cost of seeing a play at [[Ryogoku|Ryôgoku]] in 1820.

*1 ''ryô'' - the cost of commissioning a scroll painting by a well-known painter; a screen painting by the same painter might cost roughly 6-10 ''ryô''.

*1 ''ryô'' - the cost of commissioning a scroll painting by a well-known painter; a screen painting by the same painter might cost roughly 6-10 ''ryô''.

*2-3 ''ryô'' - the cost of hiring a maid for a year (i.e. the income made by a maid in a year)

*2-3 ''ryô'' - the cost of hiring a maid for a year (i.e. the income made by a maid in a year)

*4 ''ryô'' - the cost of a print imported from Europe<ref>Timon Screech, ''Obtaining Images'', University of Hawaii (2012), 325.</ref>

*4 ''ryô'' - the cost of a print imported from Europe<ref>Timon Screech, ''Obtaining Images'', 325.</ref>

*6 ''ryô'' - a typical annual wage for a laborer<ref name=screech/><ref name=obtaining/>

*6 ''ryô'' - a typical annual wage for a laborer<ref name=screech/><ref name=obtaining/>

*6 to 10 ''ryô'' - the fee to commission a major artist for a single set of lavish ''byôbu'' (folding screen) paintings; could be as much as even 40 ''ryô'' depending.<ref name=screech/>

*6 to 10 ''ryô'' - the fee to commission a major artist for a single set of lavish ''byôbu'' (folding screen) paintings; could be as much as even 40 ''ryô'' depending.<ref name=screech/>