Modern Versions of the twenty-four Paragons of Filial Piety: Guo Zhu 1760 - 1780

Isoda Koryūsai created this woodblock print titled "Modern Versions of the Twenty-four Paragons of Filial Piety: Guo Zhu" sometime in the late 18th century. It presents a contemporary take on traditional filial piety. In the print we see two women, one holding a baby, and the other preparing tea. Historically, these paragons were male, emphasizing men’s roles in upholding family honor. Here, Koryūsai shifts the focus to women and domesticity. The intimate scene suggests that filial piety can also be expressed through everyday acts of care, performed by women in the household. The choice of tea preparation, a highly ritualized activity, could be seen to reflect the emphasis on performing one's duties with grace and precision, in service of the family. Koryūsai invites us to reconsider the rigid gender roles often associated with traditional virtues. The emotional resonance of the scene draws us into the quiet, yet profound, ways women contribute to familial harmony.