Heroes of the Popular History of the Three Kingdoms,
One by One
(Tsûzoku Sangokushi eiyû no ichi-nin, 通俗三国志英雄之壹人)
Publisher: Jôshû-ya Kinzô
1836
Romance of the Three Kingdoms is a Chinese historical novel written in the
fourteenth century by Luo Guanzhong
about the period between the years 184 and 280 CE. During this turbulent period of history,
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Hero: The
scholar and teacher Kômei praying for wind at the
alter of the Seven Stars Robinson:
S10.1 (first state) NOTE: In the
first state of this design, the title cartouche (right lower corner) reads Tsûzoku Sangokushi eiyû no ichi-nin, the same
as on the other prints from this series.
I am grateful to Ward Pieters for locating
this image. |
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Hero: The scholar
and teacher Kômei praying for wind at the alter of
the Seven Stars Robinson:
S10.1 (second state) NOTE: In
the second state of this design, title cartouche reads Wakan buyû kagami
instead of Tsûzoku Sangokushi eiyû no ichi-nin. |
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Hero: Kwanu grasping his huge glaive and subduing a band of
rebels on the steps of a castle Robinson:
S10.2 |
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Hero: Môki Bachô killing the mother
of Kyûjo of Rekijô after
becoming a follower of Gentoku Robinson:
S10.3 |
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Another state of the above print. |
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Hero: Chôkô and Chô-un fighting on a
hillside partly enveloped by smoke Robinson:
S10.4 |
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Hero: Gentoku (Future emperor Chao Lieh) and his black horse Tekiro
are leaping into the Tan Gorge in order to escape captivity Robinson:
S10.5 |
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This is a later edition of
the above print with a simplified design. |
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Hero: Hôsen Ryofu mounted with hair
and cloths flying spears a fallen foe after the defeat of Sôsô Robinson:
S10.6 |
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Hero: Chôhi holding his formidable spear, glares at the enemy
from the back of his black horse Robinson:
S10.7 |
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Hero: Shusô and Hôtoku fighting under
water Robinson:
S10.8 |
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This is a key block for the above print, courtesy of Horst Graebner. It is an impression pulled from the first
woodblock made by a carver from the artist’s original drawing. The artist would write instructions for
each color on a separate key block print, and the woodblock for each color
was cut using one of these as a guide.
Registration marks (kento) are characteristically found on Japanese key block
prints. Kento are cut in each
woodblock, so that the paper can be properly aligned on each woodblock during
printing. Kento are visible in this
print’s right lower corner and right upper corner. In
addition to being a guide for carving the color woodblocks, the key block was
also used to apply black ink (usually) in the printing process. |
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Hero: Chô-un (Chao Yun) saving Gentoku’s son A Tow
at the battle of Ch’ang Fan Kiao
in 208 CE Robinson:
Not listed NOTE: It
is easy to miss A-Tow’s small head directly below Chô-un’s
head. |
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Hero: ? Robinson:
Not listed |
“Robinson” refers to listing in Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982) and its privately published supplement.
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