Sword, Shoes and a Scroll, Representing the Chinese Warrior Chōryō

Art Historical Context

In the elegant tradition of Edo-period Japan (1615–1868), Ryūryūkyo Shinsai crafted *Sword, Shoes and a, Representing the Chinese Chōryō* as part of a luxurious surimono album. This intimate woodblock print, measuring just 5 13/16 x 7 7/16 inches, uses ink and color on paper cleverly depict everyday objects—a sword, shoes, and a scroll—that form a visual rebus, or pictorial pun, symbolizing the Chinese warrior Chōryō. Surimono, meaning "printed things," were bespoke commissions often shared among poetry societies or for New Year's greetings, showcasing the artist's mastery of subtle wit and refined design. Shinsai, a prominent ukiyo-e printmaker active in the early 19th century, elevated surimono with his precise lines, vibrant colors, and occasional embellishments like mica or embossing, making each print a treasured keepsake. This work draws from Chinese heroic tales, popular in Japanese culture through literature like *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, blending Eastern legends with playful symbolism. Its small scale invited close contemplation, highlighting the ingenuity of Japanese visual riddles. Now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Art Department, part of the renowned H. O. Havemeyer Collection (1929), this print exemplifies the poetic fusion of art, literature, and humor in Edo Japan, offering visitors a window into a sophisticated world of private indulgence.

About the Artist

Ryūryūkyo Shinsai · 1799–1823

Ryūryūkyo Shinsai (柳々居辰斎), active from 1799 to 1823, was a prominent Japanese ukiyo-e printmaker based in Edo (modern Tokyo), renowned for his mastery of surimono—luxurious, privately commissioned woodblock prints produced for elite poetry circles and New Year's celebrations. He began his training under Tawaraya Sōri before becoming a student of the legendary Katsushika Hokusai, from whom he recei...