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Chao Gai, the Pagoda-shifting Heavenly King (Takutô Tennô Chôgai) [a Suikoden hero], from the series Essays by Yoshitoshi (Ikkai zuihitsu)


「一魁随筆 托塔天王晁葢」
Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (Japanese, 1839–1892)
Publisher: Masadaya Heikichi (Japanese)
Japanese
Meiji era
1872 (Meiji 5), 11th month

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions Vertical ôban; 36.9 x 25 cm (14 1/2 x 9 13/16 in.)
Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.37615
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints

Catalogue Raisonné Iwakiri et al., Edo no eiyû (2010), #10; Museum of Kyoto, Tsukioka Yoshitoshi ten (2001), #79; Ing & Schaap, Beauty & Violence (1992), #23.4 (no photo)
DescriptionChao Gai is one of heroes in the classic Chinese novel Shuihuzhuan (Suikoden in Japanese), but he is not included in the list of 108 Stars of Destiny.
Signed Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu
一魁斎芳年筆
Marks Censor's seal: Water Monkey (Jinshin, mizunoe saru) 11
Blockcutter's mark: Horikô Ryû (or Ru ?)
Artist's seal: Tsukioka
改印:壬申十一
彫師:彫工留
ProvenanceBy 1911, purchased by William Sturgis Bigelow (b. 1850–d. 1926), Boston [see note 1]; 1911, gift of Bigelow to the MFA. (Accession Date: January 19, 2005)

NOTES:
[1] Much of Bigelow's collection of Asian art was formed during his residence in Japan between 1882 and 1889, although he also made acquisitions in Europe and the United States. Bigelow deposited many of these objects at the MFA in 1890 before donating them to the Museum's collection at later dates.