A Yoshiwara Analogue of the Story of Koko (Huang Xiang) one of the Twenty-four Paragons of Filial Piety 1781 - 1801

This print by Chōkyōsai Eiri from the Edo period presents a scene inspired by the tale of Koko, one of the Twenty-four Paragons of Filial Piety. Here, however, we find ourselves not in a humble dwelling, but rather, it seems, in the Yoshiwara district. The fan, delicately held by one of the figures, traditionally a symbol of status and refinement, takes on a complex tone. The gesture, typically associated with elegance, now hints at the fleeting pleasures of the floating world. We must remember how symbols from the past resurface and are adapted. Consider, for example, the Madonna. In early Christian art, she appeared serene, a symbol of purity. Later, during the Renaissance, she was depicted with richer fabrics, a reflection of new values and the evolution of the sacred image over time. Here, the artist plays with our collective memory, subverting traditional symbols with profound psychological impact. The viewer is drawn into a world where devotion and pleasure intertwine. These images remind us that symbols are not static; they resurface and evolve, bearing traces of past eras.