Ukiyo-e Educational Catalog · Record 134165

s own eccentric approach to life. This print shows Shoki in the robes and hat of a Chinese scholar. Clutching a red <i>oni</i> (the <i>oni</i> are demons) in one hand he holds his sword ready to strike the green demon trying to escape from the corner of the picture. The inscription reads

Artist / 作者
Kwanabe Ky Kwanabe KysaiKwanabe Kyōsai
Date / 年代
1967-1999
Medium / 技法
浮世絵 / Ukiyo-e / Showa / vam
Digital record / 画像記録
1390 × 2000 px
Source collection / 所蔵元
Victoria and Albert Museum
Published by / 公開者
白石カナ
Rights / 権利
Commercial license required
Attribution / 表記
Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Catalog note / 解説

Shoki the Demon Queller was a popular subject with Kawanabe Kyosai. The combination of wildness with the potential humour of this character appealed to Kyosai's own eccentric approach to life. This print shows Shoki in the robes and hat of a Chinese scholar. Clutching a red <i>oni</i> (the <i>oni</i> are demons) in one hand he holds his sword ready to strike the green demon trying to escape from the corner of the picture. The inscription reads 'Pictured by Kyosai the drunken sprite in the cave city'. 'Cave city' is a play on words, for in Japanese it sounds like the word for the Eastern Capital, modern-day Tokyo, where Kyosai worked. He was extremely fond of alcohol, executing many of his m…

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