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East Asian art


The Society has an important collection of art from East Asia, particularly China and Japan, with many beautiful and fascinating pieces.

[RAS 01.001] Chinese Court of Justice in the hall of the British Factory at Canton, 9 April 1807

Chinese Court of Justice in the hall of the British Factory at Canton, 9 April 1807. Ca. 1810. Oil-on-paper: 72…


[RAS 043.001] A Votive door god, offering wealth

[RAS 043.001] A Votive door god, offering wealth. He is a military figure, holding up flaming pearls, a symbol of…


[RAS 043.002] Randeng Daoren

[RAS 043.002] Randeng Daoren (?), a magician from the late Ming novel, Feng-shen yanyi. Possibly a pair with 043.007. 43…


[RAS 043.003] Votive door god

[RAS 043.003] A votive door god. In full armour, he wears the flags of a theatrical general, with a battle…


[RAS 043.004] Votive door god with bowl

[RAS 043.004] Votive door god holding up a bowl containing a scroll (for happiness) and other auspicious objects. 42 x…


[RAS 043.005] Votive door god offering wealth

[RAS 043.005] Votive door god offering wealth. Duplicate of RAS 043.001. 43 x 28 cm From a collection of 10…


[RAS 043.006] Door god, mounted on a horse

[RAS 043.006] Door god, mounted on a horse. He wears theatrical make-up, holds a jian (smooth) baton in one hand,…


[RAS 043.007] Randeng Daoren

[RAS 043.007] Randeng Daoren (?), a magician from the late Ming novel Feng-shen yanyi. See also 043.002. 35 x 23…


[RAS 043.008] Zhao Gongming

[RAS 043.008] The god Zhao Gongming (?), who took part in combat with Randeng Daoren in he novel Feng-shen yanyi….


[RAS 043.009] General on a horse

[RAS 043.009] An unidentified General on a horse, with an eight-cornered hat and theatrical flags. 35 x 23 cm From…


[RAS 043.010] A god in theatrical make-up

[RAS 043.010] A god, probably of wealth, in theatrical make-up. He wears court dress over armour. 34 x 22 cm…


[RAS 05.001] The Approach of the Emperor of China to his Tent in Tartary to receive the British Ambassador

[RAS 05.001] ‘The Approach of the Emperor of China to his Tent in Tartary to receive the British Ambassador’ The…


[RAS 077.001, 001-003] Ishibashiyama

[RAS 077.001, 001-003] Kuniyoshi. Triptych The title destroyed by worming except for the last word: Ishibashiyama. Children at play provide…


[RAS 077.001, 004-006] Crowds visiting Narita-san for the display of the image

[RAS 077.001, 004-006] Kunisada. Triptych Narita-san kaicho sankei kunju no dzu (‘Crowds visiting Narita-san for the display of the image’)…


[RAS 077.001, 007-009] Crowds attending the image-showing of the god Fudo of Narita-san

[RAS 077.001, 007-009] Crowds attending the image-showing of the god Fudo of Narita-san in the temple-grounds of the Hachiman shrine…


[RAS 077.001, 010-012] Crowds attending the image-showing of the goddess Benzaiten at Yenoshima

[RAS 077.001, 010-012] Crowds attending the image-showing of the goddess Benzaiten at Yenoshima Crowds thronging a street between rows of…


[RAS 077.001, 019-021] Women and children engaged in silk-worm cultivation

[RAS 077.001, 019-021] Women and children engaged in silk-worm cultivation in and outside a silk-worm house in the country Kunisato….


[RAS 077.001, 022-024] Ladies of the household sightseeing in famous places

[RAS 077.001, 022-024] Ladies of the household sightseeing in famous places Women and young girls, one carried in a palanquin,…


[RAS 077.001, 028-030] Women and children on the beach at sunrise

[RAS 077.001, 028-030] Women and children on the beach at sunrise Kuniyoshi. Triptych 1855. Click on the following image to…


[RAS 077.001, 031-033] Prosperity of the Eastern Capital

[RAS 077.001, 031-033] Prosperity of the Eastern Capital Three geisha with their maids and a servant in the street in…


[RAS 077.001, 034-036] Blossom-viewing at the Sansuido temple, Uyeno

[RAS 077.001, 034-036] Blossom-viewing at the Sansuido temple, Uyeno Crowds of sight-seers in the grounds and on the veranda of…


[RAS 077.001, 037-039] View of Akabane, Yedo, early evening

[RAS 077.001, 037-039] View of Akabane, Yedo, early evening Women and children in an open space in front of a…


[RAS 077.001, 040-042] Blossom-viewing at Asukayama

[RAS 077.001, 040-042] Blossom-viewing at Asukayama Landscape with pines and blossoming cherry-trees, and Mount Fuji in the distance. Four groups…


[RAS 077.001, 043-045] Twin houses, spring travelling companions

[RAS 077.001, 043-045] Twin houses, spring travelling companions Group of twelve actors in costume under an old pine tree, in…


[RAS 077.001, 046] Portrait of the wrestler Tsuneyama Goroji

[RAS 077.001, 046] Portrait of the wrestler Tsuneyama Goroji Kunisada. ca. 1840. Click on the following image to open a…


[RAS 077.001, 047] Portrait of the wrestler Hiraishi Shichidayu

[RAS 077.001, 047] Portrait of the wrestler Hiraishi Shichidayu Yoshitora. ca. 1840. Click on the following image to open a…


[RAS 077.001, 048] Stories of wise women and faithful wives

[RAS 077.001, 048] Stories of wise women and faithful wives Gio and Gijo, former shirabyoshi dancers and mistresses of Taira…


[RAS 077.001, 049] Shidzuka-gozen, mistress of Minamoto no Yoshitsune

[RAS 077.001, 49] Shidzuka-gozen, mistress of Minamoto no Yoshitsune (1168-1187), in the costume of shirabyoshi dancer. Kuniyoshi. ca. 1841. Click…


[RAS 077.001, 050] Fujinoye, wife of Idzumi Saburo Tadahira

[RAS 077.001, 50] Fujinoye, wife of Idzumi Saburo Tadahira (12th cent.), holding a naginata while a maid pours hot drinks….


[RAS 077.001, 054] Kano

[RAS 077.001, 54] The 69 post-stations of the To-kaido Road: no. 53, Kano. Half-length portrait of Ichikawa Danjuro VIII as…


[RAS 077.001, 055] Kano Utanosuke

[RAS 077.001, 55] The 53 post-stations of the To-kaido Road. Seki and Saka-no-shita (no. 46-7). Portrait of unidentified actor portraying…


[RAS 077.001, 056] Shinnosuke of Marukame

[RAS 077.001, 56] Portrait of unidentified actor as the young lord Shinnosuke of Marukame. Kunisada. 1852. Click on the following…


[RAS 077.001, 057] The Greengrocer Hambei

[RAS 077.001, 57] Unidentified actor as the Greengrocer (yaoya) Hambei in a street between houses, kicking up one foot behind…


[RAS 077.001, 058] Nagoya and Kinohei

[RAS 077.001, 58] Nakamura Fususuke as Nagoya and Sawamura Tossho as his servant Kinohei in a dramatic scene from Tanzen…


[RAS 077.001, 059] Nagoya and Kinohei

[RAS 077.001, 59] Nakamura Fususuke as Nagoya and Sawamura Tossho as his servant Kinohei. Kunisada. 1856. Click on the following…


[RAS 077.001, 060] Innami Kazuma and Otaka Shuden

[RAS 077.001, 60] Two actors as Innami Kazuma and Otaka Shuden, in an unidentified production. Kunisada. 1856. Click on the…


[RAS 077.001, 061] Yokoyama Daizo and Otaka Shuden

[RAS 077.001, 61] Unidentified actors as Yokoyama Daizo and Otaka Shuden in the water, half-naked with drawn swords. Kunisada. 1856….


[RAS 077.001, 062] Kasugaya Tokijiro and Hamanaya Urasato

[RAS 077.001, 62] Actors as Kasugaya Tokijiro (left) and Hamanaya Urasato in unidentified production. Kunisada II. 1856. Click on the…


[RAS 077.001, 063] Drunken dance

[RAS 077.001, 63] Nakamura Fukusuke performing a drunken dance with umbrella and fan in Haishin no futami bundai produced at…


[RAS 077.001, 064] Kagekoto

[RAS 077.001, 64] Series, Kagekoto (or may be read Keiji, ‘Appearances’), each print representing one or two actors in character….


[RAS 077.001, 065] Kagekiyo and Hito Maru

[RAS 077.001, 65] Kagekiyo and his young daughter, Hito Maru. Kunisada. [1852] Click on the following image to open a…


[RAS 077.001, 066] Kakushi and his wife

[RAS 077.001, 66] Kakushi and his wife beside a palanquin. Kunisada. [1852]. Click on the following image to open a…


[RAS 077.001, 067] Kobune with the child Nori

[RAS 077.001, 67] Kobune with the child Nori playing a toy-drum; sake-bottle and cup on the ground. Kunisada. [1852]. Click…


[RAS 077.001, 068] Magama

[RAS 077.001, 68] Magama (probably acted by Bando Shuka) playing the samisen, and the child Nori behind on a horse….


[RAS 077.001, 069] Kasugaya Tokijiro

[RAS 077.001, 69] Ichikawa Danjuro VIII (standing) as Kasugaya Tokijiro, and Bando Shuka as Yamanaya Urasato, in the nature of…


[RAS 077.001, 070-071] Mirror of ancient and modern wrestling

[RAS 077.001, 70-71] Diptych, the title on an umpire’s fan on each sheet: Kokon sumo kagami (‘Mirror of ancient and…


[RAS 077.001, 072-073] Flowers

[RAS 077.001, 72-73] Diptych, Hana soroi no uchi: nori no hana (‘Series of the flowers: the flower of the [Buddhist]…


[RAS 077.001, 074] Famous places

[RAS 077.001, 74] Right-hand sheet of a triptych entitled Toto meisho awase (‘Comparison of famous places in the Eastern Capital’):…


[RAS 077.001, 075] Courtesan with two maids

[RAS 077.001, 75] Courtesan with two maids preparing young pine-shoots for New Year. Kuniyoshi. ca. 1851. Click on the following…


[RAS 077.001, 076] Hambei and O-Chiyo

[RAS 077.001, 76] Actors as Hambei and O-Chiyo in the play Yoigoshin. Kunisada. 1856. Click on the following image to…


[RAS 077.001, 077] Yojiro

[RAS 077.001, 77] Nakamura Fukusuke as the monkey-showman Yojiro, with a monkey on his shoulder. Kunisada. 1856. Click on the…


[RAS 077.001, 078] Ishidome Busuke threatens O-Fuchi

[RAS 077.001, 78] Nakamura Fukusuke as Ishidome Busuke threatens the Bizen-ya singing-girl O-Fuchi (played by Onoye Kikujiro), watched by Nakamura…


[RAS 077.001, 079] Ise no saburo drawing his sword

[RAS 077.001, 79] Nakamura Fukusuke as Ise no saburo drawing his sword, with onlookers. Kunisada. 1856. Click on the following…


[RAS 077.001, 082] Kagura dancer

[RAS 077.001, 82] Nakamura Fukusuke as a female Kagura dancer in Ise meisho. Kunisada. 1856. Click on the following image…


[RAS 077.001, 083] Courtesan

[RAS 077.001, 83] Courtesan Nakamura Fukusuke as a courtesan. Kunisada. 1856. Click on the following image to open a full-screen…


[RAS 077.001, 084] Fumiya no Yasuhide in court robes

[RAS 077.001, 84] Fumiya no Yasuhide in court robes holding on to his cap, the string of which is being…


[RAS 077.001, 085] Kisen-hoshi

[RAS 077.001, 85] Kisen-hoshi holding up a large umbrella, three junior monks gesturing in the foreground. Kuniyoshi. 1856. Click on…


[RAS 077.001, 086-087] Picture of Takanawa

[RAS 077.001, 86-87] Picture of Takanawa, on the bay just south of Yedo. Four actors in mufti on a veranda…


[RAS 077.001, 088-090] Plum-tree of the Winter Solstice

[RAS 077.001, 88-90] Plum-tree of the Winter Solstice. Ichikawa Kuzo as Kosuke, and Nakamura Fukusuke as Kurosuke. Background of a…


[RAS 077.001, 091-092] Dancers and courtiers

[RAS 077.001, 91-92] Actors portraying a kagura dancer and, seated, courtiers, with a man dancing with a mask of Uzume…


[RAS 077.001, 093] Young man and priest

[RAS 077.001, 93] Young man with a carrying-pole looks down at a seated priest, Haikaibutsu. Kunisada. 1856. Click on the…


[RAS 077.001, 094] Takashima Beizan in the snow

[RAS 077.001, 94] Takashima Beizan (really the robber Inaba Kozo) in the snow with his attendant Sankichi. Kunisato. 1857. Click…


[RAS 077.001, 095] Taira camp

[RAS 077.001, 95] The Taira camp in confusion at the battle of Ichi-no-tani (1184); Tomomori and Koremori in the foreground….


[RAS 077.001, 098-100] Scene at a castle moat

[RAS 077.001, 98-100] Scene at a castle moat. Ashikaga Kadzusa Saburo Yoshiuji leaps his horse across, watched by the strongman…


[RAS 077.001, 101] Fuwa Banzayemon in Nagoya obi

[RAS 077.01, 101] Ichikawa Yebizo (Danjuro VII) as Fuwa Banzayemon in Nagoya obi. Kunisada. 1836. Click on the following image…


[RAS 077.001, 102] Nagoya Sanza

[RAS 077.001, 102] Onoye Kikuguro III as Nagoya Sanza in Nagoya obi. Kunisada. 1836. Click on the following image to…


[RAS 077.001, 104] Temman-ya O-Hatsu

[RAS 077.001, 104] Iwai Shijaku (Hanshiro VII) as Temman-ya O-Hatsu in Nagoya obi. Kunisada. 1836. Click on the following image…


[RAS 077.001, 105] Saito Ichiro Sanemori

[RAS 077.001, 105] Ichikawa Yebizo (Danjuro VII) as Saito Ichiro Sanemori in Nunobiki. Kunisada. 1833. Click on the following image…


[RAS 077.001, 106] Girl with a basket of flowers

[RAS 077.001, 106] Bando Mitsugoro III as a girl with a basket of flowers. Kunisada. ca. 1830. Click on the…


[RAS 077.001, 107] O-Matsuri Sashichi

[RAS 077.001, 107] Onoye Kikugoro III as O-Matsuri Sashichi in Soga no oyose. Kunisada. 1829. Click on the following image…


[RAS 077.001, 108] O-Koma of Shiroki-ya

[RAS 077.001, 108] Iwai Shijaku (Hanshiro VII) as O-Koma of Shiroki-ya. Kunisada. ca. 1830. Click on the following image to…


[RAS 077.001, 109-110] Arashishi Otokonosuke and Nikki Danjo

[RAS 077.001, 109-110] Ichikawa Yebizo (Danjuro VII) as Arashishi Otokonosuke and Ichikawa Danzo V as Nikki Danjo. Diptych. Scene from…


[RAS 077.001, 111-112] Musha Mitsuhide drawing his sword

[RAS 077.001, 111-112] Arashi Rikwan as Musha Mitsuhide drawing his sword as he is attacked with a bamboo spear by…


[RAS 077.001, 116-118] The Wrestlers

[RAS 077.001, 116-118] Ichikawa Kuzo (Danzo VI) as the wrestler Tetsugadake listening outside, Ichimura Uzayemon XII as O-Toki with a…


[RAS 077.001, 119-121] O-Toki in a palanquin with two bearers

[RAS 077.001, 119-121] Ichimura Uzayemon XII as O-Toki in a palanquin with two bearers. Triptych. Kunisada. 1839. Click on the…


[RAS 077.001, 122-123] Oyaka Taro Mitsukuni confronts Kisaragi

[RAS 077.001, 122-123] Ichimura Uzayemon XII as Oyaka Taro Mitsukuni confronts Ichikawa Kuzo as the courtesan Kisaragi (really Takiyasha-hime, daughter…


[RAS 077.001, 124] A demonstration of the ‘ken’ game

[RAS 077.001, 124] Three actors demonstrating the ‘ken’ game of hand gestures, with instructions above illustrated by small figures. Kunisada….


[RAS 077.001, 125-127] Servants with a sake-cup, kettle and a rake

[RAS 077.001, 125-127] Ichikawa Kuzo as a servant holding a sake-cup, Sawamura Tossho as a female servant with a sake-kettle,…


[RAS 077.001, 128-132] Five gallant men

[RAS 077.001, 128-132] Five gallant men, favourite dramatic characters, in a bamboo-grove in the snow. Pentaptych. Kunisada. ca. 1840. Click…


[RAS 077.001, 133-135] Forging the sword-blade

[RAS 077.001, 133-135] Forging the sword-blade, a scene from Usuyuki. Triptych. Kunisada. 1839. Click on the following image to open…


[RAS 077.001, 136-138] Shinagawa scene

[RAS 077.001, 136-138] Shinagawa scene from Go-ju-san tsugi, Inaba no Suke stretching a cord, O-Hime, wife of Yoritomo, and Shimidzu…


[RAS 077.001, 139-141] Snow scene

[RAS 077.001, 139-141] Actors portraying O-Yuki in the snow with an ox outside a bamboo gate, Miyamoto Musashi wielding two…


[RAS 077.001, 142-144] Issun Tokubei holding out a sandal

[RAS 077.001, 142-144] Actors portraying Issun Tokubei holding out a sandal, Danshichi Kurobei with folded arms, and the latter’s wife…


[RAS 077.001, 145-146] River-bank scene

[RAS 077.001, 145-146] River-bank scene from Iwai-uta Soga no kaomise, with actors portraying the girl Jurokuyo and Inada Kozo, hand…


[RAS 077.001, 147-148] New place, Osaka

[RAS 077.001, 147-148] Title on four lanterns above, Naniwa shinji, ‘New place, Osaka’. Actors in mufti greeting one another on…


[RAS 077.001, 149] Courtesan by a low screen

[RAS 077.001, 149] Courtesan by a low screen: view of Matsuchiyama temple buildings. Sadafusa. ca. 1830. Click on the following…


[RAS 077.001, 150] Girl adjusting her hair-pin

[RAS 077.001, 150] Girl adjusting her hair-pin. Sadafusa. ca. 1830. Click on the following image to open a full-screen view:


[RAS 077.001, 151] Girl with a roll of cloth

[RAS 077.001, 151] Girl with a roll of cloth; view at Uyeno, with a tea-house on a hill overlooking the…


[RAS 077.001, 152] Girl with an open fan

[RAS 077.001, 152] ‘Scenery of the Eastern Capital’. Girl with an open fan. Sadafusa. ca. 1830. Click on the following image…


[RAS 077.001, 153] Girl by a palanquin

[RAS 077.001, 153] Girl by a palanquin. Sadafusa. ca. 1830. Click on the following image to open a full-screen view:


[RAS 077.001, 154] Girl carrying a bundle

[RAS 077.001, 154] Girl carrying a bundle. Sadafusa. ca. 1830. Click on the following image to open a full-screen view:


[RAS 077.001, 155] Girl on bench with baby

[RAS 077.001, 155] Girl on bench with baby, with flowers behind. Yeisen. ca. 1830. Click on the following image to…


[RAS 077.001, 156] Fukusuke seated with a fan

[RAS 077.001, 156] A figure of Fukusuke, the big-headed good luck character, seated with a fan, his features made up…


[RAS 077.001, 157] Ichikawa Kuzo bows to the audience

[RAS 077.001, 157] Ichikawa Kuzo bows to the audience on the occasion of taking the name and title of Ichikawa…


[RAS 077.001, 158-159] Courtesan handing a pipe to a blind man

[RAS 077.001, 158-159] Actors portray the courtesan Segawa of Matsuba-ya handing a pipe to the blind Kiriyama Kengyo, observed from…


[RAS 077.001, 160-161] Assault on a moonlight shore

[RAS 077.001, 160-161] Actors portray Go-i-ya Kyonosuke intervening as Kijin no Jimpachi attacks O-Yaye. Diptych. Kunisada. 1856. Click on the…


[RAS 077.001, 162-163] Yasuke and O-Sato

[RAS 077.001, 162-163] Actors portray Yasuke (really Koremori) and O-Sato of the sushi-ya, in an interior. Diptych. Kunisada. 1856. Click…


[RAS 077.001, 164-166]

[RAS 077.001, 164-166] Kageikyo holds a Minamoto family banner with Nisaku (really Miho Tanishiro) with his daughter O-Yama (really Hatsushimo,…


[RAS 077.001, 167-168] O-Sone hands a sword to her husband

[RAS 077.001, 167-168] Actors portay O-Sone handing a sword to her husband, Suke-ichi. Diptych. Kunisada. 1856. Click on the following…


[RAS 077.001, 169-170] A confrontation at night

[RAS 077.001, 169-170] Actors portray Chichibu Shoji Shigetada confronting Akoya, mistress of Kagekiyo, and his daughter Kosakura, at night. Diptych….