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The Prints

Print 3-1. The Operation on the Arm of Kuan Yu

Oban triptych by Kuniyoshi, published by Tsutaya Kichizo in 1853.

Titled Tsuzoku sangoku-shi no uchi: ka-i hone wa kezurite Kan-u (From the Popular History of the Three Kingdoms: Kuan Yu having his bone scraped).

Print 3-2. The Operation on the Arm of Kuan Yu

Oban print by Katsushika Oui. Date and publisher unknown.

Katsushika Oi, whose real name was Sakae, was the daughter of Hokusai and studied painting under her father. This colorful print has an elaborate composition and is one of the most realistic on this subject. It seems to have been strongly influenced by Kuniyoshi's print above, but it has its own originality with its emphasis on the volume of infected blood (caused by the poisoned arrow) and on the expressively horrified gestures of his entourage looking on. However, the expression of Kada the doctor is not as intense as would be depicted by a first-class artist.

Print 3-3. General Kuan Yu Having His Bone Scraped

An illustration from the original 1494 version of Sankuo chih yen i.

In this illustration from the original Chinese novel, the operation is being performed on Kuan Yu's left arm. In the two prints above it is the right arm that has been injured. It is a small point, but it would be interesting to know on which arm the operation was performed. According to Mizuguchi Fujio, the depiction here is not of the quality we would hope for, but it is the only Chinese warrior print related to go that he has ever come across.