People’s History of the Suikoden

(Haishi Suikoden, 稗史水滸伝)

1829-1858?

These prints are the covers of a 20 volume Japanese version of the Chinese semi-historical novel, Suikoden. The 20 volumes have multicolor covers and monochrome interior illustrations, all by Kuniyoshi. The texts of these yomihon (illustrated books, 読本) were written by various authors and published between 1829 and approximately 1858. The first 6 volumes are titled Haishi Suikoden (稗史水滸伝), and volumes 7 through 20 are titled Kokuji Suikoden (國字水滸伝). These titles may be translated as People’s History of the Suikoden and Suikoden for Our Country, respectively. The prints are each approximately 7 by 5 inches (18 by 13 centimeters). This series is not listed in either Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982) or Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961). I am grateful to Ward Pieters and Robert Pryor for their invaluable assistance with this series.

	Volume: First volume (初編) Date: 1829
	Volume: Second volume (二編)
	Another state of the above design lacking the seal under Kuniyoshi’s signature (國芳画)
	Volume: Third volume (三編)
	An alternate design for the third volume
	Volume: Fourth volume (四編)
	An alternate design for the fourth volume
	Volume: Fifth volume (五編)
	An alternate design for the fifth volume
	Volume: Sixth volume (六編)

CLICK HERE TO GO TO CHAPTERS 7-20,

WHICH ARE TITLED KOKUJI SUIKODEN