Twenty-four Instances of Filial Piety 1774

Torii Kiyotsune created this woodblock print called "Twenty-four Instances of Filial Piety" in Japan, sometime in the late 1700s. The series of images are visual stories about the Confucian idea of filial piety, or respect for one’s elders, and their prominence in Japanese culture. Examining this print, we can see the visual codes through which traditional values are promoted. From the clothing that signifies different social roles, to the domestic settings that emphasize family, these images work together to create meaning. Japan during this period was highly structured with a complex system of social hierarchies, and institutions played a strong role in everyday life. Woodblock prints like this were widely accessible and helped to reinforce specific cultural norms. As a historian, I would consult popular literature from the time and studies of Japanese social history to understand the precise values communicated in the artwork and how its meaning was shaped by its social and institutional context.