[WAKAN] EHON SAKIGAKE: PICTURE BOOK OF LEADERS OF CHINA AND JAPAN. Alternate Jap by HOKUSAI, Katsushika

[Tokyo 1868, Suzuki]. Stitched pink stiff wrs., very good, 31 woodcuts of heroic Japanese & Chinese figures, Japanese text, indigo-blue Chitsu case, colored frontispiece, signed Gakyo Rojin Manji, 15.5 x 23 cm. IMPORTANT HOKUSAI WORK ! . *** **** *** . . ONE OF HOKUSAI'S MOST FAMOUS ILLUSTRATED BOOKS . . . ON CHINESE & JAPANESE HISTORIC HEROES . . * This important work shows the human body moving under the heavy armor, and the flow of Hokusai's [1760-1849] skilled and fluid brush. An exciting and action-packed Samurai illustrated book. Shows a number of Japanese and Chinese heroes as they struggle to suppress evil and encounter over- whelming robust and fierce opponents. Toki Kintaro struggled with a giant bronze-casted Buddhist temple Bell; other heroes struggle and fight with Inoshishi [wild boar]; tiger; suppressing a great wild stallion and huge spider; a giant dragon-snake; devils; Sumo; butchering one's enemy; haunted by living Yurei ghost; ogres; Fu-dog, and one blood- curdling scene of a person holding a newborn baby by the feet over a boiling cauldron while he split it's stomach shows the blood flowing into the "soup" while a colleague looks on in delight; Buddhist saints and Goddess; seeking salvation, refuge and Nirvana under a freezing cold waterfall in fervent prayer; suffering a barrage of arrows and assailants. . * A most dramatic and emotional work, of the strongest Heroes and most powerful warriors as they wield their all-mighty Samurai swords. Executed with the greatest of skill, as only Hokusai could do. Contains one double-page preface, thirty double-page and two single illustrations. The entire book printed on double-folded leaves, by woodblocks, printed on hand-made Washi paper. . * Showing Hokusai's brilliant imagination and ability to fantasize. Books of this high caliber and unique subject, condition and vintage are always S C A R C E. . *** THE ARTIST: KATSUSHIKA HOKUSAI [1760-1849]: Hokusai was Japan's most famous Edo period illustrator of Japanese genre, landscape, scenery and of the daily lives and occupations of the commoners. His works are full of cheerfulness, humor, optimism and he had a knack of capturing the true nature of his time, people and life style. He was affectionately called the "MAD MAN ON DRAWING" by the Japanese. His works continue to fascinate the world over ! . *** THE VARIANT EDITIONS: We have become aware of the fact, that there is a strong possibility, that each of the two variant copies may have slightly different plates. For example, the current copy in hand does not have plates 212 nor 214 as cited in Hillier above. One needs to have the luxury of having both variants on their desk and compare page by page to note actual and complete differences. Our copy is consecutively numbered per Kerlen, and so we know that it is complete, but a variant to what Hillier saw in one of the museums cited on his "Acknowledgement" page. All other illustrations he cited are present. . *** Color photos are posted to our website. . *** BIBLIOGRAPHY: . A famous work, cited in many standard references we list a few of the many works.: . * J. Hillier: THE ART OF HOKUSAI IN BOOK ILLUSTRATION, plates: 209, 210, 212, 214, 215; text on pp.227-231. Because Hiller understood this book to be of exceptional importance, has devoted substantial space to this title, which is part of a major trilogy on the subject of great Japanese and Chinese heroes. This genre was called the "Toshisen" and done in the final decade of Hokusai's artistic life 1840-1849. There are two versions of the First Edition relating to the first illustration, opposite the title page: a. Sumi-zuri or black and white, uncolored plate. b. Saishiki or colored version. The Saishiki type was strictly a made-to-order version for wealthy merchants; the Sumi-zuri being the more common of the two variants. * H. Kerlen: CATALOGUE OF PRE-MEIJI JAPANESE BOOKS AND MAPS IN PUBLIC COLLECTIONS IN THE NETHERLANDS, item #312, p.126-127. * K. Toda: THE RYERSON COLLECTION OF JAPANESE AND CHINESE ILLUSTRATED BOOKS, p.263. * KSM (KAIGO) 1-494-2 * Kraft: vol. 1, no. 125 * J. Hillier: no.245, p.278 . * .