Peonies and Chinese Lions

Peonies and Chinese Lions by Suzuki Harunobu (museum date 1757) draws on a venerable East Asian decorative motif in which mythical guardian lions (karajishi) frolic among the lush blossoms of tree peonies (botan). The pairing carries layered meanings: the peony as the 'king of flowers' suggests prosperity and fertility, while the lions as Buddhist guardians invoke courage and the protection of the dharma. In Chinese painting and Japanese decorative arts the combination signified flourishing nobility, and Harunobu translates it into a fashionable Edo nishiki-e composition with the lithe energy he brought to all his Edo bijin-ga even when no women appear. The lions roll and leap, their curly manes carved in tight scrolls by the block cutter, while the peonies open in heavy red and pink layers above their playful tussle. Although Harunobu is most associated with elegant women, the workshop economy of Edo ukiyo-e demanded a range of subjects, and his treatment of the karajishi-botan motif gives the design a freshness rarely seen in older painted versions. The sheet was likely intended for collectors who appreciated continental motifs as well as the technical achievement of multi-block color printing that nishiki-e had recently made possible. Source: Art Institute of Chicago, no. 88948.