Guan yu, by Yashima Gakutei

An image of Guan yu. Gakutei, Yashima (Japanese, 1786(?)-1868). Surimono. Colour print from woodblocks, with metallic pigment and blind embossing. Mid 1820s. Poetry by Sanzuntei Kusami, circa 1824-circa 1826. Ukiyo-e. Notes: From a set of Shoku sanketsu (Three heroes of the State of Shu). Guan Yu, identifiable by his long beard, is one of the three Chinese generals who fought for the State of Shu (modern Szechuan Province) in the 4th century a.d. (see also the next print). Their tale was best known through the Chinese novel Romance of the three kingdoms which was introduced into Japan in the early Edo period and is still popular today. This series shows one of the most popular episodes in which the three generals meet in a peach orchard to drink and pledge their brotherhood. The poem reads: ‘The wine in the peach orchard lasts as long as Guan’s lovely beard and the beautiful spring day.’

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Guan yu. Gakutei, Yashima (Japanese, 1786(?)-1868). Surimono. Colour print from woodblocks, with metallic pigment and blind embossing. Mid 1820s. Poetry by Sanzuntei Kusami, circa 1824-circa 1826. Ukiyo-e. Notes: From a set of Shoku sanketsu (Three heroes of the State of Shu). Guan Yu, identifiable by his long beard, is one of the three Chinese generals who fought for the State of Shu (modern Szechuan Province) in the 4th century a.d. (see also the next print). Their tale was best known through the Chinese novel Romance of the three kingdoms which was introduced into Japan in the early Edo period and is still popular today. This series shows one of the most popular episodes in which the three generals meet in a peach orchard to drink and pledge their brotherhood. The poem reads: ‘The wine in the peach orchard lasts as long as Guan’s lovely beard and the beautiful spring day.’

Image data

Accession Number: P.280-1937
Photograph copyright © The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
Aperture: f/22.0
Focal length: 120
Camera: Hasselblad H4D-31
Photographer name: Sam Cole
Image height: 1025 pixels
Image width: 919 pixels
Processed with: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.0 (Windows)
Filesize: 0.96MB
Exposure time: 1/125
ISO Speed: 100
Fnumber: 22/1
Captured: 2017:07:24 10:54:45

Key words

19th Century bearded beards blind embossing blossom cartouche Chinese colour printing Edo Period embossed embossing fans Fitz_PDP Gakutei general Guan yu heroes heroic Japan Japanese karazuri male metallic pigment military orchard peach blossom pigment poem poetry poets print robes surimono tree blossom ukiyo-e woodblock woodcut Yashima Gakutei

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            The Fitzwilliam Museum (2026)
            "Guan yu, by Yashima Gakutei"
            Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/image/media-2750102622 Accessed: 2026-01-17 11:30:28

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