Sword, Shoes and a Scroll, Representing the Chinese Warrior Chōryō 19th century

Ryūryūkyo Shinsai made this woodblock print depicting a sword, shoes, and a scroll, representing the Chinese warrior Chōryō, in Japan in the early 19th century. During the Edo period, there was a revival of interest in Chinese themes, and woodblock prints were a popular medium for expressing this interest. Shinsai's print references a story from Chinese folklore, in which the warrior Chōryō retrieves a shoe for an old man, who then rewards him with a book of military strategy. The imagery creates meaning through these cultural references and historical associations. It’s worth noting that prints such as this were not created in a vacuum: censorship laws at the time meant that artists had to negotiate their creative expression through the lens of social and political structures. Understanding the meaning and power of art requires that we consider its specific social and institutional context. Art historians use a variety of resources to understand these dynamics better, including period documents and secondary sources.