Boy’s Day Carp Streamer and Shōki Banner 1831 - 1869

Kawanabe Kyōsai made this hanging scroll with ink and color on paper, to celebrate Boy’s Day, a holiday in Japan traditionally used to wish boys health and success. At the time this was made, in the late 19th century, Japan was going through massive social and political changes, rapidly modernizing while still holding onto its cultural identity. Boy’s Day was a moment for families to reinforce traditional gender roles and expectations for young boys. The imagery in this scroll is layered with symbolic meaning. Shōki, the demon queller, stands at the bottom of the scroll, meant to ward off evil spirits. Above him, we see symbols of success and perseverance, like the carp swimming upstream and the rooster perched atop a drum. Kyōsai uses traditional imagery to create a piece that is full of optimism for the next generation of Japanese men. The piece speaks to the hopes and dreams invested in the youth during a transformative period in Japanese history, and it reflects both the pride and the pressures associated with masculinity at the time.