Journey to the West
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Source:
- Robyn Buntin of Honolulu
- Image courtesy of
- Robyn Buntin of Honolulu
Description
The fourth print in Kyosai's Journey to the West (Saiyūki) series presents another episode from the Chinese narrative adapted for a Japanese popular audience. The Saiyūki's combination of Buddhist pilgrimage, supernatural combat, and comedy aligned closely with Kyosai's artistic sensibilities, allowing him to apply his facility with fantastic figures, monster iconography, and dynamic compositional energy. This sheet likely depicts an encounter between the pilgrims and a particularly formidable supernatural adversary, or may show a moment of transformation — a narrative device central to the Monkey King's character, who could assume seventy-two different forms. The compositional structure of such subjects typically employs strong diagonal movement and overlapping figures to convey physical conflict across the picture plane. The washi ground accepts the layered pigments of Meiji-era woodblock printing, with key-block lines providing definition for figures translated from Kyosai's gestural painting style.
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.