Japanese Ukiyo-e Art Print Poster Woodblock Wall Decor Rori Hakucho Chojun Utagawa Kuniyoshi Samurai Sword Tattoo Calligraphy Bushido A3

UKIYO-E
JAPANESE WOODBLOCK
ART PRINT

Rori Hakucho Chojun, from the series "The 108 Heroes of the Popular Suikoden" (通俗水滸伝豪傑百八人之一個　浪裡白跳張順人), by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, late 1820s

"The 108 Heroes of the Popular Suikoden (Chinese original: Shui Hu Chuan or "Water Margin" as it is also known)" is one of the four great classical novels of Chinese literature, a story of 108 brave outlaws, who started as rebels against the government and later, after the granted amnesty, fought the injustice (and nomadic enemy attacks) across the country.
Utagawa Kuniyoshi, renowned for his intense compositons and dynamic character depictions, has outdone himself with these series, bringing both himself and the novel an immense popularity. This print is arguably one of the finest in the series.

Here we see one of the prominent characters of the story, Rori Hakucho Chojun (Chinese original: Zhang Shun), nicknamed "White Stripe in the Waves" for his fair skin and ace swimming skills. Half-naked, tattooed and with a huge sword between his teeth, he is forcing open the Yongjin sluice gate in the battle of Hangzhou. The enemy's son, Fang Tianding, spots him and orders his archers to rain arrows in a vain attempt to stop him - but Chojun is unrelenting! In few moments he is slain by the arrows, but even then his unstoppable spirit rises immediately to invade another body, killing Fang Tianding with the hand of his own brother!

Chojun's pose on the water-gate is almost animal-like, exuding both immense strength and agility, muscles bulging and the red and indigo tattoo of a snake contrasting sharply with his famed white skin. The multiple flying arrows, fast water stream underneath and even the monstrous face behind him all add to the thrill and the tension of the scene, highlighting the hero's wild ferocity and spirit.

★ Reproduced from an archive image, respectfully and lovingly restored and enhanced digitally, to remove the non-artistic blemishes and colour fading.

★ A3 print, 297mm x 420mm. (Interior images are shown for styling and illustrative purposes only, not to be used as a precise scale guide. There will be no watermarks on the actual print.)

★ Printed in England on a 350gsm Eucalyptus paper, made from eucalyptus pulp from sustainable sources. It is brilliant white and smooth and Eco printed with high pigment environmentally-friendly toners.

★ Supplied unframed, carefully rolled and packed with tissue paper in a strong cardboard tube for safe transit.

FRAMED / READY-TO-HANG LISTING ALSO AVAILABLE here: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1171127559

(Interior images are shown for styling and illustrative purposes only, not to be used as a precise scale guide. There will be no watermarks on the actual print.)

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Female silhouette vector created by renata.s - www.freepik.com