Traditional Japanese Ukiyo e woodblock prints mainly depicted scenes of what subject matter?

Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to art history and Japanese culture. Ukiyo e is a famous style of woodblock print and painting that developed in Japan. The name literally means pictures of the floating world. The exam tests whether you know what type of scenes these prints usually depicted, which is important for understanding how art reflects social life and entertainment in historical Japan.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The term in focus is Japanese Ukiyo e prints.
The options include religious imagery, everyday life, abstract experiments and temple architecture.
The question asks which subject matter was mainly depicted, not whether other minor themes ever appeared.

Concept / Approach:
Ukiyo e prints were popular during the Edo period and often showed scenes of urban life, kabuki actors, courtesans, tea houses, sumo wrestlers, landscapes and travel views. The floating world referred to the pleasure districts and the transient joys of city life. Although some prints included religious themes or landscapes, the core identity of Ukiyo e is tied to everyday entertainment and popular culture rather than to Hindu deities or purely abstract art. Therefore, the correct option must reference the everyday world and city culture.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Ukiyo e literally means pictures of the floating world, a poetic way of describing the pleasure seeking urban lifestyle.Step 2: Remember that typical prints showed actors, beautiful women, scenes from teahouses, markets and popular travel destinations.Step 3: Evaluate option B, The everyday world of entertainment, city life and popular culture, which closely matches this description.Step 4: Evaluate option A, Lord Shiva from Hindu mythology, which is unrelated to Japanese Buddhist and Shinto traditions and therefore does not belong to Ukiyo e subject matter.Step 5: Evaluate option C, Abstract flung ink experiments only, which sounds more like modern abstract art, not the representational style of Ukiyo e.Step 6: Evaluate option D, Shinto temple architecture alone, which is too narrow and does not reflect the broader entertainment focus of the floating world.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, think of famous Ukiyo e artists such as Hokusai and Hiroshige. Hokusai Great Wave and Hiroshige landscape series show travel routes and scenic views enjoyed by common people. Other artists produced portraits of kabuki actors and geishas. Art history books often describe these prints as snapshots of urban life and popular culture. There is no strong tradition of Ukiyo e being dominated by Hindu mythological subjects or by non representational abstract ink splashes. This confirms that the correct answer emphasises everyday city and entertainment scenes.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A is wrong because Lord Shiva is a deity from Hinduism, which is not the central subject of Japanese Ukiyo e art.
Option C is wrong because abstract flung ink experiments describe a different approach found more in some modern art movements, not in traditional Ukiyo e prints which usually have clear figures and scenes.
Option D is wrong because, although temples and shrines sometimes appear in landscapes, Ukiyo e is not limited to Shinto architecture and is more strongly associated with the broader floating world of entertainment.

Common Pitfalls:
A common error is to assume that any Asian art form must be mainly religious, leading to the selection of options that mention gods or temples. Another pitfall is to project modern art ideas such as abstraction onto older styles like Ukiyo e. Keeping in mind that Ukiyo e was a commercial, mass produced art for a growing urban audience helps you remember that it depicted everyday life and entertainment rather than only sacred or abstract subjects.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is The everyday world of entertainment, city life and popular culture. Ukiyo e prints are best known for capturing scenes from the floating world of Edo period Japan.