The 108 Heroes of the Popular Suikoden,

Part I

(Tsûzoku Suikoden gôketsu hyaku-hachi-nin no hitori, 通俗水滸傳濠傑百八人一個)

Publisher: Kaga-ya Kichiemon

1827-1830, with a few later

This is Kuniyoshi’s “great” Suikoden series—the series that made him famous. These prints are the first single-sheet color prints on the Suikoden theme ¹ and the first large series of warrior prints designed by any ukiyo-e artist. It is based on stories from the semi-historical Chinese novel, Suikoden (Shuihu zhuan in Chinese). It tells of the adventures of a band of 108 rebels who sought refuge in the margins of Liangshan Marsh. These rebel warriors sought to protect the poor and downtrodden, very much like Robin Hood’s band. The prints are each about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban.

Japanese name: Bizenkô Shutô (美鬚公朱仝)

Chinese name: Zhu Tong

Scene: Bizenkô Shutô, an iron truncheon in his mouth, tying his girdle on some steps under a brocade curtain

Robinson: S2.1

Klompmakers: 15

Japanese names: Bokutenô Riô (撲天雕李應) and Botsusharan Bokkô (設遮攔穆弘) Chinese names: Li Ying and Mu Hong Scene: Bokutenô Riô wielding a mace with a chained weight, and Botsusharan Bokkô, with tattooed back, preparing to make a sword-stroke Robinson: S2.2 Klompmakers: 39c

Japanese name: Gyokkirin Roshungi (玉麒麟盧俊義) Chinese name: Lu Junyi Scene: Gyokkirin Roshungi, armored, raising his sword with both hands Robinson: S2.17 Klompmakers: 39b

Japanese name: Sekibakki Ryûtô (赤髪鬼劉唐) Chinese name: Liu Tang Scene: Sekibakki Ryûtô armored and raising his sword for a stroke Robinson: S2.59 Klompmakers: 39a

Japanese names: Botaichû Kodaisô (母大顧大嫂蟲) and Shini Andôzen (神醫安道全)

Chinese names: The goodwife Gu and An Daoquan

Scene: Botaichû Kodaisô having her wounded arm attended to by the aged physician Shini Andôzen

Robinson: S2.3

Klompmakers: 41

Japanese name: Botsu-usen Chôsei (沒羽箭張清) Chinese name: Zhang Qing Scene: Botsu-usen Chôsei, armored on a plunging horse, throwing stones out of a bag Robinson: S2.4 Klompmakers: 49b

Japanese name: Daitô Kanshô (大刀關勝) Chinese name: Guan Sheng Scene: Daitô Kanshô, fully armored, using the butt of his enormous glaive to parry stones flung by Botsu-usen Chôsei at the Battle of Tôshôfu Robinson: S2.14 Klompmakers: 49a

Japanese name: Boyasha Sonjirô (母夜叉孫二娘)

Chinese name: The goodwife Sun

Scene: Boyasha Sonjirô, the Amazon, binding an opponent whom she has overthrown together with his horse in the snow; she was the wife of Saiyenshi Chôsei

Robinson: S2.5

Klompmakers: 45

Japanese name: Gyôja Bushô (清河縣之産武松)

Chinese name: Wu Song

Scene: Gyôja Bushô of Seika-ken, brown-skinned and half-naked, killing a huge tiger with his bare fists at the hill of Keiyô

Robinson: S2.6

Klompmakers: 16

Japanese name: Byôkwansaku Yôyû (病關索楊雄)

Chinese name: Yang Xiong

Scene: Byôkwansaku Yôyû, a sword between his teeth, simultaneously strangling his unfaithful wife and her maid

Robinson: S2.7

Klompmakers: 24

Japanese names: Byôtaichû Setsuei (病大蟲薛永) and Shôsharan Bokushun (小遮攔穆春)

Chinese names: Xue Yong and Mu Chun

Scene: Byôtaichû Setsuei, wearing a loincloth and tattooed, in a furious bare-fisted struggle with Shôsharan Bokushun

Robinson: S2.8

Klompmakers: 20

Japanese name: Byô-utsuchi Sonryû (病蔚遅孫立)

Chinese name: Sun Li

Scene: Byô-utsuchi Sonryû, grasping a foe by the scruff of his neck, threatens him with his drawn sword

Robinson: S2.9

Klompmakers: 26

Another state of the above design

Japanese name: Waikyakko Ôyei (矮腳虎王英) Chinese name: Wang Ying Scene: Waikyakko Ôyei on a rock overhanging a torrent, a drawn sword in his hand Robinson: S2.74 Klompmakers: 17b

Japanese name: Chinsanzan Kôshin (鎮三山黃信) Chinese name: Huang Xin Scene: Chinsanzan Kôshin, bestriding a rock, feels the edge of his sword Robinson: S2.10 Klompmakers: 17a

Japanese name: Chicasei Goyô (智多星吴用)

Chinese name: Wu Yong

Scene: Chicasei Goyô, robed and making a magic gesture with his right hand, standing by a celestial globe and quadrant

Robinson: S2.11

Klompmakers: 9

Japanese name: Chôkanko Chintatsu (跳澗虎陳達) Chinese name: Chen Da Scene: Chôkanko Chintatsu, in full armor and armed with a spear, falling headlong from his black horse Robinson: S2.12 Klompmakers: 3c	Japanese name: Kyumonryô Shishin (九紋龍史進) Chinese name: Shi Jin Scene: Kyumonryô Shishin seated on a vanquished adversary , parrying a flying sword with his pole Robinson: S2.42 Klompmakers: 3b	Japanese name: Hakkwaja Yôshun (白花蛇杨春) and Jinkigunshi Shubu (神機軍師朱武) Chinese name: Yang Chun and Zhu Wu Scene: Hakkwaja Yôshun on horseback with a spear; Jinkigunshi Shubu in front of him in long robes holding a feather fan Robinson: S2.18 Klompmakers: 3a
NOTE: This is a first state triptych.

A later edition of S2.12 with the seal of the publisher Iba-ya Sensaburô on the lower portion of the print

Japanese name: Chûsenko Teitokuson (中箭虎丁得孫)

Chinese name: Ding Desun

Scene: Chûsenko Teitokuson driving his sword with both hands into an enormous serpent

Robinson: S2.13

Klompmakers: 60

I am grateful to Frederik Balhuizen and Josta Klaassen for this alternate state.

Japanese name: Daitô Kanshô (大刀關勝)

Chinese name: Guan Sheng

Scene: Daitô Kwanshô, fully armored, using the butt of his enormous glaive to parry stones flung by Botsu-usen Chôsei at the Battle of Tôshôfu

Robinson: S2.14

Klompmakers: 49a

NOTE: See S2.4 above for complete diptych.

Japanese name: Dakoshô Richû (打虎將李忠)

Chinese name: Li Zhong

Scene: Dakoshô Richû in armor holding a spear, a bare-chested retainer kneeling before him

Robinson: S2.15

Klompmakers: 4

Japanese names: Dokkakuryû Sûjun (獨角龍鄒潤) and Sôkokatsu Kaihô (雙尾蠍解寶)

Chinese names: Zou Run and Xie Bao

Scene: Dokkakuryû Sûjun, with gun and trophies of the chase, whispers to Sôkokatsu

Kaihô, who holds a bamboo pole from which lanterns are suspended; they are about to enter the castle of Peking to rescue their imprisoned comrades

Robinson: S2.16

Klompmakers: 42

Japanese name: Gyokkirin Roshungi (玉麒麟盧俊義)

Chinese name: Lu Junyi

Scene: Gyokkirin Roshungi, armored, raising his sword with both hands

Robinson: S2.17

Klompmakers: 39b

NOTE: See S2.2 above for complete triptych

Japanese names: Hakkwaja Yôshun (白花蛇杨春) and Jinkigunshi Shubu (神機軍師朱武)

Chinese names: Yang Chun and Zhu Wu

Scene: Hakkwaja Yôshun on horseback with a spear; Jinkigunshi Shubu in front of him in long robes holding a feather fan

Robinson: S2.18

Klompmakers: 3a

NOTE: This is a later state than the complete first state triptych illustrated under S2.12 above

Japanese name: Hakujisso Hakushô (白日鼠白勝)

Chinese name: Bai Sheng

Scene: Hakujisso Hakushô, bare-chested and tattooed, lifting a box of snakes above a foe with whom he is struggling; several snakes have escaped and writhe over him

Robinson: S2.19

Klompmakers: 21

Japanese name: Hakumenrôkun Teitenju (白面郎君鄭天壽)

Chinese name: Zheng Tianshou

Scene: Hakumenrôkun Teitenju in full armor levering a mass of rock with an iron bar; a flight of arrows descends behind him

Robinson: S2.20

Klompmakers: 55

Japanese name: Hitentaisei Rikon (飛天大聖李)

Chinese name: Li Gun

Scene: Hitentaisei Rikon in armor, holding a long-handled axe, scanning the landscape from a lofty rock

Robinson: S2.21

Klompmakers: 37

This is a 21^st century reproduction made from newly cut woodblocks by Yuuya Shimoi (Shimoi’s Ukiyoe Reproduction)

Japanese name: Hôtenrai (or Kôtenrai) Ryôshin (轟天雷凌震)

Chinese name: Ling Zhen

Scene: Hôtenrai Ryôshin, in armor, discharging a huge cannon, the flaming linstock in his hand

Robinson: S2.22

Klompmakers: 31

Japanese name: Mochakuten Tosen (摸著天杜遷) Chinese name: Du Qian Scene:, right arm and shoulder bare, draws his sword from behind his back Robinson: S2.46 Klompmakers: 13c

Japanese name: Hyôshitô Rinchû (豹子頭林沖) Chinese name: Lin Chong Scene: Hyôshitô Rinchû, in voluminous robes, grasps a foe by the throat, a drawn sword in his other hand Robinson: S2.23 Klompmakers: 13b

Japanese name: Tammeijirô (or Tanmeijirô) Genshôgo (短冥治郎阮小五) Chinese name: Du Qian Scene: Tammeijirô Genshôgo, bare-chested, kneels on a fallen foe, a drawn sword in his hand Robinson: S2.70 Klompmakers: 13a

Japanese name: Jinkigunshi Shubu (神機軍師朱武)

Chinese name: Zhu Wu

Scene: Jinkigunshi Shubu, bareheaded and wearing a gorgeous robe of brocade, puts a small demon to flight with his magical sword

Robinson: S2.24

Klompmakers: 2

Japanese name: Seishushosei Shôjô (聖手書生蕭讓)

Chinese name: Xiao Rang

Scene: Seishushosei Shôjô, a sword suspended in his teeth, descending the wall of Peking Castle by a rope in the moonlight

Robinson: S2.58

Klompmakers: 53a

Japanese name: Jinkyôtaihô Taisô (神行太保戴宗)

Chinese name: Dai Zong

Scene: Jinkyôtaihô Taisô, with a discomfited foe at the base of a castle wall, holds the rope

Robinson: S2.25

Klompmakers: 53b

NOTE: This vertical diptych was published about 1836, several years after the other prints in this series.

¹ Klompmakers, Inge, “Kuniyoshi’s Tattooed Heroes of the Suikoden”, Andon, No. 87, 2009, p. 18

“Robinson” refers to listing in Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982) and its privately published supplement.

“Klompmakers” refers to listing in Of Brigands and Bravery, Kuniyoshi's Heroes of the Suikoden by Inge Klompmakers (Hotei Publishing, Leiden, The Netherlands, 1998).

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