A Popular Journey to the West

Detail of a pattern
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At A Glance

  • Period

    1864
  • Geography

    Japan
  • Material

    Ink and color on paper
  • Dimension

    H x W (overall): 37 x 25.8 cm (14 9/16 x 10 3/16 in)
  • Accession Number

    S2004.3.307
  • EDAN ID

    edanmdm:fsg_S2004.3.307

Object Details

  • Artist

    Tsukioka Yoshitoshi 月岡芳年 (1839-1892)
  • Label

    In an episode from the Chinese narrative Journey to the West, the monkey king, Sun Wukong, is tossed more than ten thousand li (approximately one-half kilometer) by wind from the fan of the female immortal, Luocha (Japanese, Rasatsu). She has rejected the monkey king's appeal for her help in extinguishing the blaze on Fiery Mountain, because Sun Wukong has recently killed her son. Yoshitoshi's print series, A Popular Journey to the West (Tsvzoku Saiyvki), reflects the influence of his teacher, Kuniyoshi, whose "popular" series based on the Chinese narrative, The Water Margin (Chinese, Shuihu zhuan; Japanese, Suikoden), established Kuniyoshi's reputation for imaginative illustrations of Chinese stories. The dynamic quality of this composition is intensified by the sweeps of dark lines representing the force of the wind and the agitated peaks of the waves below.
  • Collection

    National Museum of Asian Art Collection
  • Exhibition History

    Masterful Illusions: Japanese Prints from the Anne van Biema Collection (September 15, 2002 to January 9, 2003)
  • Origin

    Japan
  • Credit Line

    The Anne van Biema Collection
  • Type

    Print
  • Restrictions and Rights

    Usage Conditions Apply

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