The 108 Heroes of the Popular Suikoden - Kuniyoshi's fantastic series, "The 108 Heroes of the Popular Suikoden," is taken from on the classic Chinese novel, "The Water Margin" (Suikoden in Japanese). Loosely based on historical events, it tells the story of a group of 108 rebels living at the edge of Liangshan Marsh who helped to protect the poor and oppressed. Designed primarily between 1827 - 1830, this is Kuniyoshi's incredible first Suikoden series, which earned him great fame. These bold and lively images feature large, beautifully colored and detailed figures in exciting action poses.  A terrific choice for a Kuniyoshi collector or anyone interested this legendary tale.

Provenance - This reprint is the work of the Japanese woodblock print artist Tachihara Kurainuki, who dedicated himself to carrying on the traditional methods and materials of ukiyo-e. Self-taught, he studied the original paper, pigments, and printing methods used by Edo era masters, using them to produce his own original works as well as a limited number of reprints of famous ukiyo-e designs, including a small number of Kuniyoshi masterwork designs. These designs include the "Skeleton Specter" and "Oniwakamaru and the Giant Carp." As a single artist with a small studio, his production of these prints was very limited. Neither of these designs is seen in the market anymore. Born in 1951, Tachihara died of a sudden illness on July 31, 2015, at the age of 64. We acquired these extremely rare images directly from the estate of the printer. Tachihara is currently the subject of a retrospective exhibition at the Hagi Uragami Museum in Yamaguchi Prefecture (see example of the exhibition poster below), recognizing his incredible skill and artistry, and honoring his commitment to carrying on this classic Japanese art form.

Incredible image of Hakujisso Hakusho (Bai Sheng in Chinese) grabbing an enemy's face with one hand while emptying a container of snakes over his foe. The wild-eyed warrior bites his lower lip and glares at his opponent, who struggles as he is brought to his knees, gripping his attacker's wrist in the hopes of wrenching free. Hakusho's red robe is pushed down to the waist, revealing an extensive upper body tattoo of a fierce dragon and flames. One snake wriggles over his bulging bicep, and others slither over his body and dangle from the box. A fantastic image with a dynamic composition and terrific detail.

Artist - Kuniyoshi (1797 - 1861)

Image Size - 15" x 10 5/8"

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Faint toning at edges, a few small spots, ink notation on reverse. Please see photos for details. Good overall.