Qin Ming (Shinmei) c. 1828

Yashima Gakutei made this woodblock print, Qin Ming, in Japan sometime in his lifetime. Here we see the artist depicting a character from the famous Chinese novel *Shui Hu Zhuan*, also known as *The Water Margin*. This story became very popular in Japan, where it was seen to exemplify the values of loyalty and honor, two virtues that were highly prized in Edo-period Japanese society. Gakutei's print is an example of *ukiyo-e*, or "pictures of the floating world", which were a popular form of art during this time. These prints often depicted scenes from everyday life, as well as famous actors, courtesans, and warriors. By the time this artwork was created, Japanese society was heavily shaped by the Shogunate. Yashima Gakutei was a pupil of Totoya Hokkei and is believed to have also studied under Hokusai, perhaps it was through these artistic lineages that he was able to so powerfully contribute to the visual culture of 19th century Japan. To understand this work better, we might research Edo-period Japanese society, as well as the history of *ukiyo-e* prints. This would help us to better understand the social and cultural context in which this work was made.