Jiang Shi (Kyo Shi), from the series "Twenty-four Paragons of Filial Piety in China (Morokoshi nijushiko)"
c. 1848/50
Medium
Color woodblock print; chuban
Dimensions
24.8 × 18 cm (9 3/4 × 7 1/16 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
149893
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Utagawa Kuniyoshi1797–1861), a master of the ukiyo-e, created *Jiang Shi (Kyo Shi)* around 1848–50 as part of his series *Twenty-four Paragons of Fil Piety in China (Morokoshi nijushiko)*. This color woodblock print in the compact chuban format (24.8 × 18 cm) captures one of24 celebrated Chinese tales of extreme devotion to parents, adapted for Japanese audiences during the late Edo period. Kuniyoshi, renowned for his dynamic warrior prints and imaginative compositions, brought vivid energy to these moral stories, blending historical reverence with his signature dramatic flair. Filial piety, a cornerstone of Confucian ethics, was highly valued in both China and Japan, making this series a popular vehicle for moral education and entertainment. *Jiang Shi* likely depicts the legendary son Jiang Shi's heroic acts of parental care—stories that inspired generations to embody loyalty and self-sacrifice. Produced amid Japan's vibrant woodblock print culture, the work reflects the era's tension between artistic freedom and government censorship, yet Kuniyoshi's bold lines and rich colors shine through. As a fine example of nishiki-e (brocade prints) technique, involving multiple carved woodblocks for layered colors, this chuban print was affordable and widely circulated, bringing elite moral tales to everyday viewers. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, it invites us to appreciate how art bridged cultures and timeless virtues.
About the Artist
Utagawa Kuniyoshi · 1797–1861
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861) was born in Edo to the silk-dyer Yanagiya Kichiyemon, originally bearing the childhood name Yoshisaburō. From a young age, he assisted in his family's pattern design work, which sharpened his innate mastery of color and textile motifs that would permeate his later prints. At around twelve years old, his prodigious drawing skills drew the attention of the renowned Utag...