Kunisada: General Huang Zhong, One of the Five Tigers (Goko shôgun no uchi: Kôchû) (Sold)

Artist: Utagawa Kunisada
Title: General Huang Zhong, One of the Five Tigers (Goko shôgun no uchi: Kôchû )
Series: From Five Brightly Colored Banners (Goku saishiki gohon nobori no uchi)
Date: Tempo era (ca. 1835-37)

The Five Tiger Generals were heroes in the Chinese historical novel, Romance of the Three Kingdoms (called Sangokushi engi in Japanese) which was written by Luo Guan Zhong in the 14th century, based on Record of Three Kingdoms (called Sangokushi in Japanese) wrriten by Chen Shou in the third century. Romance of the Three Kingdoms covers the turbulant years from the end of Han Dynasty, starting in AD1 69 and ending with the reunification of Three Kingdoms, Kingdom of Wei, Shu, and Wu in 280., when the Jing Dynasty became the defacto ruling dynasty in China. The Five Tiger Generals were generals of Kingdom of Shu: Guan Yu (? - 219), Zhang Fei (166-221), Zhao Yun (?-229), Ma Chao (176-222) and Huang Zhang (?-220). Huang Zhong (?-220) is portrayed as an elderly general with youthful vigor and constitution, excelling in archery. He was most noted for his victory at the Battle of Mount Dingjun (219), in which his force routed that of Xianhou Yuan, who was slain during the battle. For his merit he was ranked amoung the Five Tiger Generals. Here he is depicted with his bow and arrows. The set of five images was designed to match Kunisada’s series of Japanese warriors, “Banners for Parlor Decorations” (Gohi zashiki nobori).

Dimensions: vertical nagaban
Publisher: Kinridô (Moriya Jihei)
Literature: Ref.:“Kunisada’s World” Japan Society, Inc. New York, 1993. p.165
Seal: his seal: Hanabusa Ittai; Censor’s seal kiwame
Signature: Kôchôrô Kunisada ga

SKU: KUS244