Shōki, the Demon Queller
dated 1790
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk
Dimensions
12 3/4 x 22 1/2 in. (32.4 x 57.2 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Charles Stewart Smith Collection, Gift of Mrs. Charles Stewart Smith, Charles Stewart Smith Jr., and Howard Caswell Smith, in memory of Charles Stewart Smith, 1914
Accession Number
14.76.44
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan (1615–1868), Katsushika Hai, then a rising young artist around age 30, created *Shōki, the Queller* in 1790. This hanging scroll depicts the legendary Chinese figure Zhong Kui—known as Shōki Japan—a fierce warrior who vanquishes demons and protects households from evil spirits. Rendered in ink and color on silk, the painting measures 12¾ x 22½ inches, ideal for display during festivals like the Boys' Festival (Tango no Sekku), where such talismans warded off misfortune. Hokusai's early mastery shines through his dynamic brushwork, blending bold outline...
About the Artist
Katsushika Hokusai · 1760–1849
Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) stands as one of history's most influential artists, a Japanese master who revolutionized the ukiyo-e woodblock print tradition and profoundly shaped Western art. Born in the Katsushika district of Edo (modern-day Tokyo) to an artisan family, Hokusai lived through nearly nine decades of extraordinary creative evolution, adopting over thirty different artistic names t...