42. HOKKEI (1780-1850). Boy and Snake. (Sold)
TOTOYA HOKKEI (1780-1850)
A Chinese boy chasing a snake near a stream.
The story tells of an episode in the childhood of Shun Shu’ao
(J: Shukugō) who lived during the late Zhou dynasty (1046-256 BC)
and served as a governor in his adult life. When he was a child he
found a snake with two heads and killed it for the safeguard of other
people. The moral of the story is that whoever does a good deed
without showing off is rewarded by heaven.
Woodblock colour print with metallic pigments details
Shikishiban surimono, 20,7x18,3 cm
Signed: Hokkei
Poems by Kōchōkoku Baishu and Chiyo Matsukage
Title: Shu’ao
From the series The Ignorant Seekers (Mōgyū) a set of at least sixteen
surimono depicting characters from the Chinese text Mengqiu
(J: Mōgyū) a famous book translated in Japanese with didactic
stories for the education of children.
Privately published by the Hanazono poetry club
c. 1821
No other impression of this surimono is known to us. A different
surimono by Hokkei with an identical subject is illustrated in Polster.
Surimono: Prints by Elbow, p. 141 (no.146) illus. p. 149.
Like all surimono in the series, the paper’s surface is treated with
blind printing imitating the silk’s texture.
Illustrated in our catalogue Surimono. Hokusai-Shinsai-Hokkei-Gakutei,
September 2024, no. 42.
Very good impression, colour and condition
Status: Sold
Item: D 364
A Chinese boy chasing a snake near a stream.
The story tells of an episode in the childhood of Shun Shu’ao
(J: Shukugō) who lived during the late Zhou dynasty (1046-256 BC)
and served as a governor in his adult life. When he was a child he
found a snake with two heads and killed it for the safeguard of other
people. The moral of the story is that whoever does a good deed
without showing off is rewarded by heaven.
Woodblock colour print with metallic pigments details
Shikishiban surimono, 20,7x18,3 cm
Signed: Hokkei
Poems by Kōchōkoku Baishu and Chiyo Matsukage
Title: Shu’ao
From the series The Ignorant Seekers (Mōgyū) a set of at least sixteen
surimono depicting characters from the Chinese text Mengqiu
(J: Mōgyū) a famous book translated in Japanese with didactic
stories for the education of children.
Privately published by the Hanazono poetry club
c. 1821
No other impression of this surimono is known to us. A different
surimono by Hokkei with an identical subject is illustrated in Polster.
Surimono: Prints by Elbow, p. 141 (no.146) illus. p. 149.
Like all surimono in the series, the paper’s surface is treated with
blind printing imitating the silk’s texture.
Illustrated in our catalogue Surimono. Hokusai-Shinsai-Hokkei-Gakutei,
September 2024, no. 42.
Very good impression, colour and condition
Status: Sold
Item: D 364