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Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

Gentoku Visits Kōmei in a Snowstorm (Gentoku fūsetsu ni Komei o otonau)

Maker

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (Japanese, 1839-1892)
Komiyama Shohei, publisher

Title

Gentoku Visits Kōmei in a Snowstorm (Gentoku fūsetsu ni Komei o otonau)
from the series Illustrated Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Sangokushi zue no uchi)
玄徳風雪ニ孔明ヲ訪フ
三国志図絵内

Period

Meiji

Year

1883

Medium

Materials/Techniques

Techniques

Materials

ink, color

Supports

Geography

Place Made: Japan; Place Made: Tokyo

Dimensions

Sheet: 37.6 x 74.9 cm (14 13/16 x 29 1/2 inches)

Signature / Inscription / Marks

Signature: Signed in the block, lower left sheet | Taiso Yoshitoshi

Seals: Artist's seal | TaisoYoshitoshi uses a seal on this print that readsTaiso, a name that he only adopted after 1873.In addition, a date of 1883 appears on the publisher's seal on the left panel.Although the publisher's seal is incomplete (that is, the month and day are omitted), this information provides a clear indication that the print was executed at a relatively late date in Yoshitoshi's career.

Credit / Object Number

Credit

Gift of Paula and Leonard Granoff

Object Number

85.197.15

Type

Exhibition History

Real and Imagined
Japanese Warrior Prints
Dec 07, 2018 – May 05, 2019
Heroes and Warriors
Japanese Prints of Historical Narratives and Legendary Tales
Sep 28, 2007 – Jan 13, 2008

Label copy

This triptych illustrates Liu Bei’s (161-223) visit to Zhuge Liang (181-234), an episode from the Chronicle of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi), a Chinese narrative about the historical events that followed the dissolution of the Chinese empire in 220. Legend has it that Liu, on horseback on the left, called upon the scholar Zhuge Liang three times before he found him at home. Zhuge Liang, impressed by Liu’s character, agreed to become his adviser. At the center are the generals Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, who served Liu Bei.

Does Yoshitoshi tell this story effectively, and if so, how?

Tradition and Innovation in Meiji-Period Prints
Dec 06, 2002 – Mar 02, 2003

Label copy

Liu Xuande called upon Zhu Geliang, a great scholar and political adviser, three times before he found him at home. In this scene, Yoshitoshi has illustrated the third and final visit, in which Zhu agrees to become an adviser to Liu in his bid to control China.

Legends of the Samurai
Oct 01, 1993
The Triptych Format in Japanese Woodblock Prints
Dec 06, 1991 – Jan 26, 1992

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Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

Liu Xuande (Liu Pei; J. Gentoku) visits Zhuge Liang (Liang Chu-ko; J., Komei) in a snowstorm, from illustrated "Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms", Meiji
No Image Available

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

Liu Xuande (Liu Pei; J. Gentoku) visits Zhuge Liang (Liang Chu-ko; J., Komei) in a snowstorm, from illustrated "Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms", Meiji
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Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

Liu Xuande (Liu Pei; J. Gentoku) visits Zhuge Liang (Liang Chu-ko; J., Komei) in a snowstorm, from illustrated "Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms", Meiji

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Public Domain This object is in the Public Domain and available under a CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication

Tombstone

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (Japanese, 1839-1892)
Komiyama Shohei, publisher
Gentoku Visits Kōmei in a Snowstorm (Gentoku fūsetsu ni Komei o otonau); from the series Illustrated Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Sangokushi zue no uchi); 玄徳風雪ニ孔明ヲ訪フ; 三国志図絵内, 1883
Polychrome woodblock print
Sheet: 37.6 x 74.9 cm (14 13/16 x 29 1/2 inches)
Gift of Paula and Leonard Granoff 85.197.15

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