Journey to the West
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Source:
- Robyn Buntin of Honolulu
- Image courtesy of
- Robyn Buntin of Honolulu
Description
A second print from Kyosai's Saiyūki (Journey to the West) series, depicting scenes from the Chinese narrative of the monk Genjō Sanzō's pilgrimage accompanied by the Monkey King Son Goku and his fellow disciples. Each print in the series likely documents a distinct episode from the novel's episodic structure, which is organized around the party's successive encounters with demons, transformed deities, and supernatural obstacles. Kyosai's dynamic draftsmanship translates effectively into the woodblock format when depicting the acrobatic combat and transformative feats central to the Monkey King narrative. The pigments and key-block line work of this impression show the print in a state with well-preserved color contrast, allowing the full differentiation of characters through costume, attribute, and physiognomy. The rendering of demon adversaries would draw on Kyosai's extensive knowledge of oni and yokai iconography, a subject he explored throughout his career in both painting and print.
More Prints by Kawanabe Kyosai
from the series One Hundred Pictures by Kyôsai (Kyôsai hyakuzu)
Woodblock print
Old Picture of the Rashômon Gate (Rashômon no ko zu), from the series Scenes of Famous Places along the Tôkaidô Road (Tôkaidô meisho fûkei), also known as the Processional Tôkaidô (Gyôretsu Tôkaidô), here called Tôkaidô meisho tsuzuki
Woodblock print
Tsukishimadera Temple in Hyôgo (Hyôgo Tsukishimadera), from the series Scenes of Famous Places along the Tôkaidô Road (Tôkaidô meisho fûkei), also known as the Processional Tôkaidô (Gyôretsu Tôkaidô), here called Tôkaidô meisho no uchi
Woodblock print
from the series One Hundred Pictures by Kyôsai (Kyôsai hyakuzu)
Woodblock print
More Travel Scenes Prints
Rain Shower at Shо̄no, from the series Fifty-three Stations of the Tо̄kaidо̄ (Tо̄kaidо̄ gojusan tsugi)
1962
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Lake Kugushi in Wakasa Province (Wakasa Kugushiko), from the series Souvenirs of Travel I (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"
Wakasa Kugushiko
1920
Color woodblock print; oban
Pacific Ocean, Awa Province (Boshu Taikai), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series (Tabi miyage dai sanshu)"
Boshu Taikai
1925
Color woodblock print; oban
Gosai Canal in Niigata (Niigata Gosaibori), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"
Niigata Gosaibori
1921
Color woodblock print; oban
Frequently Asked Questions
Journey to the West was created by Kawanabe Kyosai (河鍋暁斎).
Journey to the West depicts travel scenes.