This page catalogs all known prints in Yoshitoshi’s series ‘Biyu suikoden (Handsome and Brave Heroes of the Suikoden)’.
The story of the 108 Heroes of the Suikoden (Shuihu Zhuan) was Chinese in origin, written in the 14th century. The novel became extremely popular in Japan in the early 19th century. The stories relate the exploits of a group of outlaws, who lived on the fringe of society, and fought in the name of justice. Hokusai illustrated the original Japanese translation of the series, and Kuniyoshi published his famous Suikoden print series, which was his first commercial success. Yoshitoshi published his own series, consisting of 50 chuban prints, in 1866.
Technical details
- Dates: 1866 (4) – 1867 (8)
- Size: Chuban
- Signed: Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi hitsu
- Publishers: Kinkyu
- Engravers: Matsushima Hori Masa, Matsushima Hori Fusa, Katata Hori Chôjirô, Watanabe Hori Ei
Previous cataloguings
Listed in Keyes’ thesis:
Roger. S. Keyes, "Courage and Silence: A Study of the Life and Color Woodblock Prints of Tsukioka Yoshitoshi 1839-1892", Cinncinnati, 1982
where it appears as series #166;
Ruetz, Gottfried, "Funfzig Helden Des Suikoden" Munchen, Germany, 1987
We use the Keyes numbers to order the prints below.
