The Art of Stories Told

Exhibition

Exhibition Overview

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The Art of Stories Told
Veronica de Jong, curator
June 5, 2004–September 5, 2004
Asia Gallery, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas
Stories of the heroism of Japan’s samurai were a rich source for literature, plays and the visual arts. The Spencer’s Asian art collection offers a bountiful variety of paintings, sculptures and prints that either tell stories or parts of stories, or represent subjects whose stories have been passed on from one generation to the next, even spreading to neighboring countries. These stories, whether religious, military, comical, supernatural, or historical, were popularly transformed into a visual language for a great variety of purposes. They served educational, decorative, propagandistic, and morally uplifting purposes and the details of each illustration and way of representing each version varied over time and in each region. Some stories were illustrated with a single scene or figure while other more complex tales have been conveyed through numerous scenes. This exhibition, organized by Veronica De Jong, the Spencer’s Carpenter Foundation intern in Asian art, seeks to introduce museum visitors to popular stories that reflect the diversity of Chinese and Japanese literary and oral traditions from all levels of society. It also aims to highlight some of the myriad techniques used by artists and artisans to tell these stories.

Works of art

Daoist priest's robe (jiangyi)
Daoist priest's robe (jiangyi)
Daoist priest's robe (jiangyi)
late 1800s or early 1900s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
月岡芳年 Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–1892), Priest Raigō of Mii Temple Transformed into a Rat
月岡芳年 Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–1892), Priest Raigō of Mii Temple Transformed into a Rat
月岡芳年 Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
Priest Raigō of Mii Temple Transformed into a Rat
1891, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Yokoyama Kazan (1784–1837), Minister Hong bows to the Heavenly Teacher
Yokoyama Kazan (1784–1837), Minister Hong bows to the Heavenly Teacher
Yokoyama Kazan
Minister Hong bows to the Heavenly Teacher
early 1890s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Yokoyama Kazan (1784–1837), Minister Hong bows to the heavenly teacher
Yokoyama Kazan (1784–1837), Minister Hong bows to the heavenly teacher
Yokoyama Kazan
Minister Hong bows to the heavenly teacher
1829, Edo period (1600–1868)
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861), Kyōshi netting fish for his mother
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861), Kyōshi netting fish for his mother
Utagawa Kuniyoshi
Kyōshi netting fish for his mother
circa 1840, Edo period (1600–1868)
Aoki Shukuya (1737–after 1806), Preface to The Orchid Pavilion Gathering
Aoki Shukuya (1737–after 1806), Preface to The Orchid Pavilion Gathering
Aoki Shukuya
Preface to The Orchid Pavilion Gathering
Edo Period (1600–1868)
Aoki Shukuya (1737–after 1806), Preface to The Orchid Pavilion Gathering
Aoki Shukuya (1737–after 1806), Preface to The Orchid Pavilion Gathering
Aoki Shukuya
Preface to The Orchid Pavilion Gathering
Edo Period (1600–1868)
Aoki Shukuya (1737–after 1806), The Orchid Pavilion Gathering
Aoki Shukuya (1737–after 1806), The Orchid Pavilion Gathering
Aoki Shukuya
The Orchid Pavilion Gathering
Edo Period (1600–1868)
forgery of Elegant Gathering of the West Garden by Qiu Ying (1494–circa 1552)
forgery of Elegant Gathering of the West Garden by Qiu Ying (1494–circa 1552)
forgery of Elegant Gathering of the West Garden by Qiu Ying (1494–circa 1552)
late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Watanabe Gentai (1749–1822), 武陵桃源 Buryô tôgen (Wuling’s Peach Blossom Spring)
Watanabe Gentai (1749–1822), 武陵桃源 Buryô tôgen (Wuling’s Peach Blossom Spring)
Watanabe Gentai
武陵桃源 Buryô tôgen (Wuling’s Peach Blossom Spring)
late 1700s–early 1800s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Matsumura Goshun (1752–1811), The Red Cliff
Matsumura Goshun (1752–1811), The Red Cliff
Matsumura Goshun
The Red Cliff
late 1700s–early 1800s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Utagawa Yoshikazu (active 1850–1870), Minamoto no yoshitsune taira no tomomori no rei ni au zu (Meeting of Minamoto no Yoshitsune and the ghost of Taira no Tomomori)
Utagawa Yoshikazu (active 1850–1870), Minamoto no yoshitsune taira no tomomori no rei ni au zu (Meeting of Minamoto no Yoshitsune and the ghost of Taira no Tomomori)
Utagawa Yoshikazu
Minamoto no yoshitsune taira no tomomori no rei ni au zu (Meeting of Minamoto no Yoshitsune and the ghost of Taira no Tomomori)
circa 1851–1853, Edo period (1600–1868)
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861), (The miraculous gourd guarded by sacred snake which appeared in the garden of Emaro in Sanuki province around the time of the birth of Prince Shotoku)
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861), (The miraculous gourd guarded by sacred snake which appeared in the garden of Emaro in Sanuki province around the time of the birth of Prince Shotoku)
Utagawa Kuniyoshi
(The miraculous gourd guarded by sacred snake which appeared in the garden of Emaro in Sanuki province around the time of the birth of Prince Shotoku)
circa 1840 (later printing), Edo period (1600–1868)
Chinese War Scene, Victory of General Liu's Black Flag Army over the Japanese in the Central Route of Taiwan
Chinese War Scene, Victory of General Liu's Black Flag Army over the Japanese in the Central Route of Taiwan
Chinese War Scene, Victory of General Liu's Black Flag Army over the Japanese in the Central Route of Taiwan
late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Chinese War Scene, General Liu Yung-fu’s Defense of Taiwan Won a Victory over the Japanese with the Help of the Aborigines, 1895
Chinese War Scene, General Liu Yung-fu’s Defense of Taiwan Won a Victory over the Japanese with the Help of the Aborigines, 1895
Chinese War Scene, General Liu Yung-fu’s Defense of Taiwan Won a Victory over the Japanese with the Help of the Aborigines, 1895
late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Chinese War Scene, Sino-Russian Battle at Niuzhuang, 1900
Chinese War Scene, Sino-Russian Battle at Niuzhuang, 1900
Chinese War Scene, Sino-Russian Battle at Niuzhuang, 1900
late 1800s, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)
Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849), (Scene from Act 10 of play, Amakawaya scene, Gihei's shop)
Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849), (Scene from Act 10 of play, Amakawaya scene, Gihei's shop)
Katsushika Hokusai
(Scene from Act 10 of play, Amakawaya scene, Gihei's shop)
1800s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849), (Act Ten, Yuranosuke and Gihei's wife)
Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849), (Act Ten, Yuranosuke and Gihei's wife)
Katsushika Hokusai
(Act Ten, Yuranosuke and Gihei's wife)
1800s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858), Yashima besso (Act Nine: Konami and Tonase Wait While Honzo Disguised as a Monk Eavesdrops)
Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858), Yashima besso (Act Nine: Konami and Tonase Wait While Honzo Disguised as a Monk Eavesdrops)
Utagawa Hiroshige
Yashima besso (Act Nine: Konami and Tonase Wait While Honzo Disguised as a Monk Eavesdrops)
1843–1847, Edo period (1600–1868)
Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858), Act Ten: Gihei’s loyalty is tested by the Rōnin disguised as police officers
Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858), Act Ten: Gihei’s loyalty is tested by the Rōnin disguised as police officers
Utagawa Hiroshige
Act Ten: Gihei’s loyalty is tested by the Rōnin disguised as police officers
1847–1853, Edo period (1600–1868)
Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858), Gishi yo-uchi (Act Eleven: The Night Attack of the Loyal Samurai)
Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858), Gishi yo-uchi (Act Eleven: The Night Attack of the Loyal Samurai)
Utagawa Hiroshige
Gishi yo-uchi (Act Eleven: The Night Attack of the Loyal Samurai)
1843–1847, Edo period (1600–1868)
Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1864), Chapter 20, Genji notices a young woman in a window across a moat
Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1864), Chapter 20, Genji notices a young woman in a window across a moat
Utagawa Kunisada
Chapter 20, Genji notices a young woman in a window across a moat
1852, Edo period (1600–1868)
Utagawa Sadakage I (active circa 1818–1844), Lady Yugao
Utagawa Sadakage I (active circa 1818–1844), Lady Yugao
Utagawa Sadakage I
Lady Yugao
early 1820s, Edo period (1600–1868)
Toyohara Kunichika (1835–1900), Scene from Banchō Sarayashiki
Toyohara Kunichika (1835–1900), Scene from Banchō Sarayashiki
Toyohara Kunichika
Scene from Banchō Sarayashiki
1892, 10th month, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861); Iba-ya Sensaburo, Nissaka (The Nightly Weeping Rock)
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861); Iba-ya Sensaburo, Nissaka (The Nightly Weeping Rock)
Utagawa Kuniyoshi , Iba-ya Sensaburo
Nissaka (The Nightly Weeping Rock)
circa 1845–1846, Edo period (1600–1868)
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861); Hayashiiya Shogoro, Spirit of Sakura Sogoro haunting Hotta Kozuke
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861); Hayashiiya Shogoro, Spirit of Sakura Sogoro haunting Hotta Kozuke
Utagawa Kuniyoshi , Hayashiiya Shogoro
Spirit of Sakura Sogoro haunting Hotta Kozuke
circa 1850, Edo period (1600–1868)
月岡芳年 Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–1892), Spirit of General Tamichi as a Great Snake
月岡芳年 Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–1892), Spirit of General Tamichi as a Great Snake
月岡芳年 Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
Spirit of General Tamichi as a Great Snake
1880, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Keisai Eisen (1790–1848), Susanoo no mikoto preparing to slay an eight-headed dragon
Keisai Eisen (1790–1848), Susanoo no mikoto preparing to slay an eight-headed dragon
Keisai Eisen
Susanoo no mikoto preparing to slay an eight-headed dragon
1832, Edo period (1600–1868)

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