Kanchkotsuritsu Shuki, bare-chested and tattooed, on a balcony overlooking a river. In his bow, a humming-bulb arrow containing a secret message.
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Format:
- Oban
- Source:
- Art of Japan
Description
This Water Margin figure — bare-chested to display his tattoos, bow raised, and a humming-bulb arrow (whistling signal arrow) in hand — stands on a balcony overlooking a river in a posture of covert communication. The humming-bulb arrow was used in the novel to signal allies across distances, and Kuniyoshi depicts the moment of dispatch with the river below providing both scenic context and tactical rationale. The bare-chested, tattooed hero type, developed through his Suikoden series, became one of Kuniyoshi's most iconic figure conventions.
More Prints by Utagawa Kuniyoshi
Woman as the Hero Taisō in Palanquin Holding a Pipe
c. 1830
Woodblock print (surimono), ink and color on paper
Yan Qing (Roshi Ensei), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)"
Poem by Abe no Nakamaro, from an untitled series of One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets
Hu Sanniang (Ko Sanjo Ichijosei), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)"
More Landscapes Prints
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
Autumn Maple Leaves at Takao, from the album Eight Views of Kyoto (Kyôto hakkei)
Woodblock print
The Beach at Kaiganji in Sanuki Province (Sanuki Kaiganji no hama), from the series "Collection of Views of Japan II, Kansai Edition (Nihon fukei shu II Kansai hen)"
1934
Color woodblock print; oban
Tea Kettle, section of a sheet from the series "Mirror of Stone Rubbings of Views of the Provinces" (Kohon meihitsu ishizuri kagami)
n.d.
Woodblock print; ishizuri-e, section of harimaze sheet
Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kanchkotsuritsu Shuki, bare-chested and tattooed, on a balcony overlooking a river. In his bow, a humming-bulb arrow containing a secret message. was created by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (歌川国芳).
Kanchkotsuritsu Shuki, bare-chested and tattooed, on a balcony overlooking a river. In his bow, a humming-bulb arrow containing a secret message. depicts landscapes, rivers & lakes, and interiors.