Hanga

Heroes & Warriors Prints (27)

Prints depicting historical, legendary, and literary heroes — musha-e and warrior portrait series including Suikoden bandits, Genpei War samurai, Yoshitoshi's famous generals and brilliant heroes, and Kuniyoshi's hero cycles.

Artists Known for Heroes & Warriors

Saishin, from the series "Fashionable Women as the One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Water Margin (Fuzoku onna Suikoden, ippyakuhachinin no uchi)" by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Saishin, from the series "Fashionable Women as the One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Water Margin (Fuzoku onna Suikoden, ippyakuhachinin no uchi)"

c. 1828/30

Color woodblock print; surimono

Oteiroku, from the series "Fashionable Women as the One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Water Margin (Fuzoku onna Suikoden, ippyakuhachinin no uchi)" by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Oteiroku, from the series "Fashionable Women as the One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Water Margin (Fuzoku onna Suikoden, ippyakuhachinin no uchi)"

c. 1828/30

Color woodblock print; surimono

Rua Xiaoqi (Katsuenra Genshoshichi), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)" by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Rua Xiaoqi (Katsuenra Genshoshichi), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)"

c. 1827/30

Color woodblock print; oban

Yang Zhi (Seimenju Yoshi), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)" by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Yang Zhi (Seimenju Yoshi), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)"

c. 1827/30

Color woodblock print; oban

Xie Zhen (Ryotoda Kaichin), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)" by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Xie Zhen (Ryotoda Kaichin), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)"

c. 1827/30

Color woodblock print; oban

Woman in Elaborate Kimono, from the series Elegant Women's Water Margin, One Hundred and Eight Sheets (Fuzoku onna Suikoden, hayakuhachi ban no uchi) by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Woman in Elaborate Kimono, from the series Elegant Women's Water Margin, One Hundred and Eight Sheets (Fuzoku onna Suikoden, hayakuhachi ban no uchi)

Ukiyo-e woodblock-printed "surimono"; ink, color and metallic pigment on paper

Genshōshichi, from the series Elegant Women's The Water Margin: From One Hundred and Eight Figures (Fuzoku onna Suikoden: Ippyaku-hachinin no uchi) by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Genshōshichi, from the series Elegant Women's The Water Margin: From One Hundred and Eight Figures (Fuzoku onna Suikoden: Ippyaku-hachinin no uchi)

c. 1828-1832

Woodblock print (surimono); ink, color, and metallic pigments on paper

Ro Shungi (Chinese: Lu Junyi), from the series Elegant Women's The Water Margin: From One Hundred and Eight Figures (Fuzoku onna Suikoden: Ippyaku-hachinin no uchi) by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Ro Shungi (Chinese: Lu Junyi), from the series Elegant Women's The Water Margin: From One Hundred and Eight Figures (Fuzoku onna Suikoden: Ippyaku-hachinin no uchi)

c. 1828-1832

Woodblock print (surimono); ink, color, and metallic pigments on paper

Sagami Jirō and Taira no Masakado, from the series Yoshitoshi's Incomparable Warriors (Yoshitoshi mushaburui) by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

Sagami Jirō and Taira no Masakado, from the series Yoshitoshi's Incomparable Warriors (Yoshitoshi mushaburui)

Meiji period, datable to 1883

Ukiyo-e woodblock print in "ōban" format; ink and color on paper

The Actor Ichikawa Sadanji as Akechi Samenosuke, from the series "Seven Brilliant Heroes (Komei shichi yosei)" by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

The Actor Ichikawa Sadanji as Akechi Samenosuke, from the series "Seven Brilliant Heroes (Komei shichi yosei)"

1876

Color woodblock print; oban

Taira no Kiyomori Holding Back the Sun, from the series Mirror of Famous Generals of Japan (Dai Nippon meishō kagami) by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

Taira no Kiyomori Holding Back the Sun, from the series Mirror of Famous Generals of Japan (Dai Nippon meishō kagami)

Meiji period, circa 1878-1882

Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink, color and gauffrage ("blind" printing) on paper

Inue Shinbyoe Masashi, from the series "Eight Hundred Heroes of the Japanese Water Margin (Honcho Suikoden goyu happyakunin no hitori)" by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Inue Shinbyoe Masashi, from the series "Eight Hundred Heroes of the Japanese Water Margin (Honcho Suikoden goyu happyakunin no hitori)"

c. 1836

Color woodblock print; oban

The Moon over Gojo Bridge (Gojo no tsuki), from the series "Heroes for the Snow, Moon, and Flowers (Buyu setsugekka)" by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

The Moon over Gojo Bridge (Gojo no tsuki), from the series "Heroes for the Snow, Moon, and Flowers (Buyu setsugekka)"

1867

Color woodblock print; oban diptych

Snake (Mi): Nitan Shiro, from the series "Heroes for the Twelve Animals of the Zodiac (Buyu mitate junishi)" by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Snake (Mi): Nitan Shiro, from the series "Heroes for the Twelve Animals of the Zodiac (Buyu mitate junishi)"

c. 1840

Color woodblock print; oban

Cao Zheng (Sotoki Sosei), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)" by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Cao Zheng (Sotoki Sosei), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)"

c. 1827/30

Color woodblock print; oban, keyblock proof impression with light color

Lu Junyi (Gyokukirin Roshungi), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)" by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Lu Junyi (Gyokukirin Roshungi), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)"

c. 1827/30

Color woodblock print; oban

Li Kui (Kokusenpu Riki, ichimei Ritetsugyu), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)" by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Li Kui (Kokusenpu Riki, ichimei Ritetsugyu), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)"

c. 1827

Color woodblock print; oban

Bai Sheng (Hakujisso Hakusho), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)" by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Bai Sheng (Hakujisso Hakusho), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)"

c. 1827/30

Color woodblock print; oban

Sun Li (Byo'utchi Sonritsu), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)" by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Sun Li (Byo'utchi Sonritsu), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)"

c. 1827/30

Color woodblock print; oban

Ma Lin (Tettekisen Barin), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)" by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Ma Lin (Tettekisen Barin), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)"

c. 1827/30

Color woodblock print; oban

Zhang Qing (Botu'usen Chosei), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)" by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Zhang Qing (Botu'usen Chosei), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)"

c. 1827/30

Color woodblock print; oban

Wu Song (Seikaken no san Busho), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the [Popular] Water Margin ([Tsuzoku] Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)" by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Wu Song (Seikaken no san Busho), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the [Popular] Water Margin ([Tsuzoku] Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)"

c. 1827/30

Color woodblock print; oban

Zheng Tianshou (Hakumenrokun Teitenja), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)" by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Zheng Tianshou (Hakumenrokun Teitenja), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)"

c. 1827/30

Color woodblock print; oban

Lu Zhishen, Originally Named Lu Da (Kaosho Rochishin shomei Rotatsu), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)" by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Lu Zhishen, Originally Named Lu Da (Kaosho Rochishin shomei Rotatsu), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)"

c. 1827

Color woodblock print; oban

Chen Da (Chokanko Chintatsu), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)" by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Chen Da (Chokanko Chintatsu), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)"

c. 1827/30

Color woodblock print; left sheet of oban triptych

Ruan Xiao'er (Ritchitaisai Genshoji), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)" by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Ruan Xiao'er (Ritchitaisai Genshoji), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)"

c. 1827/30

Color woodblock print; oban

Môri ?, from the series Mirror of Famous Generals of Great Japan (Dai nihon meishô kagami) by Yoshitoshi Mori

Môri ?, from the series Mirror of Famous Generals of Great Japan (Dai nihon meishô kagami)

Woodblock print

Related Subjects

Frequently Asked Questions

Prints depicting historical, legendary, and literary heroes — musha-e and warrior portrait series including Suikoden bandits, Genpei War samurai, Yoshitoshi's famous generals and brilliant heroes, and Kuniyoshi's hero cycles.

Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, and Yoshitoshi Mori are among the artists most associated with heroes & warriors in our collection. Browse the full list of artists who explored this subject above.

Hanga currently catalogues 27 prints tagged with heroes & warriors, spanning ukiyo-e, shin-hanga, and sōsaku-hanga traditions where applicable.