Utagawa Kuniyoshi (歌川国芳) (artist 11/15/1797 – 03/05/1861)
Kyūsenpō Sakuchō or Suo Chao, the Urgent Vanguard (急先鋒索超) from the series from One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Shuihuzhuan (Tsūzoku Suikoden gōketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori - 通俗水滸伝豪傑百八人之一個)
1827 – 1830
10.25 in x 15 in (Overall dimensions) color woodblock print
Signed: Ichiyūsai Kuniyoshi ga
一勇斎国芳画
Publisher: Kagaya Kichiebei
(Marks 194)
Censor's seal: kiwame
Tokyo National Museum - as the center panel of a triptych
British Museum
Lyon Collection - another copy of this print
Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art
Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen (Rijksmuseum Volkenkunde, Leiden) via Ritsumeikan University
Lyon Collection - the print of Tenmokushō Hōki, another print from this group Illustrated in a full-page color reproduction as 40b on page 134 in Of Brigands and Bravery: Kuniyoshi's heroes of the Suikoden by Inge Klompmakers. The author, like the Tokyo National Museum, group this print along with two others in a three part composition. She said on page 131:
"In chapter 51 the emperor orders the military lord Sōben Koenshaku to destroy the Ryōsanpaku hide-out and in order to accomplish this aim he requests the assistance from Tenmokusho Hōki. An extremely talented soldier, Hōki hails from a proud warrior family. After several clashes with the Ryōsanpaku brigands, however, Hōki is finally defeated in chapter 54 by the female warrior Ichijōsei Kosanjō... and delivered to Kohōgi Sōkō.Without deliberation, Hōki decides to become a member of the Ryōsanpaku gang.
In chapter 62 Kohōgi Sōkō sends the magistrate and the governor a threatening message stating unless that Gyokukirin Roshungi... and Hemmeisanrō... are released, the city of Peking would be the scene of violent confrontation. The magistrate, who is something of a coward, wants to submit to Sōkō's demands.The governor, though, thinks this is weak and he orders his captain, Kyūsenpō Sakuchō, to prepare for battle with Sōkō and his men. Sakuchō's troops are badly beaten and are forced to retreat. Thereafter the emperor's intervention is requested to overthrow the Ryōsanpaku brigands: he dispatches Seibokukan Kakushibun, Shūgunba Sensan... and Daitō Kanshō... to assist Sakuchō. Seibokukan Kakushibun has a divine background: he was conceived when a god visited his mother in a dream and Daitō Kanshō is his sworn blood brother. The presence of three men on the battlefield is of little use to Sakuchō in that they are quickly captured by Sōkō's rebels and subsequently join up with the bandits. When Sakuchō makes another attempt to defeat the gang in chapter 63, he and his mount plunge into a snow-covered trap and are immediately taken prisoner by the Ryōsanpaku gang. From then onwards Sakuchō becomes one of the gang's chieftains."
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We first encounter Suo Chao in Chapter 13 of Outlaws of the Marsh on page 199 of our three volume edition. At the very beginning of that chapter is heading which says: "Urgent Vanguard Vies for Honors on the Training Field".
After one man lost in a struggle with Yang Zhi another warrior strode brazenly up to the governor, greeted him respectfully and said: "Though I am not very talented I'd like to pit my skill against Yang's...."
Liang saw that it was none other than Suo Chao, a captain in the guards regiment of Daming Prefecture. Suo's temper was as explosive as a pinch of salt in the flames, and he was eager to win glory for his country, always plunging first into the fray. And so he was known as the Urgent Vanguard."The governor then warned Yang Zhi that his combat with Suo Chao may not be as easy as his first fight. The governor gave Yang Zhi his own armor to wear and his own weapons. On the other side, Suo Chao was warned by General Li Cheng that he must not lose in his battle with Yang Zhi because that would reflect poorly on all of his men. Then the general, too, lent his own champion his own personal armor and his weapons for the showdown. The general gave this admonition:
Zhao Jin was your protege. He lost. If that should happen to you, it would be a reflection on the entire Daming officer corps. I'm lending you an experienced battle charger and a set of armor. Be careful. Let nothing tarnish your valor."Liang rose and walked out to the stairs. Attendants brought his silver filigreed armchair and placed it before the moon terrace railing. Liang sat down. Officers stood respectfully in lines to the left and right. They directed that the three-tiered parasol of tea-colored silk topped by a golden gourd be opened behind him.
At a signal from the general’s platform a red flag waved, golden drums on either side thundered, and cannon boomed from each of the two formations upon the field. Suo Chao galloped out and waited behind the pennant-bedecked gate. Yang Zhi also emerged from one of the formations and rode swiftly to the rear of the gate, where he reined in.
Now, a yellow flag fluttered over the generals’ stand, and the drums again thundered. Both formations raised a mighty shout. Then a hush fell on the field, as gongs sounded and a pure white flag was broken out. None of the watchers breathed a sound. They stood in absolute silence.
Above the generals’ stand a blue flag rose. For the third time the war drums sounded. The pennanted [sic] gate of the left formation swung open. Bells tinkled, and Captain Suo Chao entered the arena and checked his horse. Weapons in hand, he was a heroic figure! On his head was a lion helmet of pure steel, with a long red tassel dangling behind. He wore a coat of iron mail, bound at the waist by a gold-plaited girdle with an animal’s face. Plates of bronze protected his chest and back. Overall was a pink cape with circular designs, fastened at the neck by cords of green wool. His feet were shod in open lattice-strip leather boots. A bow hanging from his left shoulder, a quiver of arrows from his right, he held a golden ax at the level in his right hand as he sat astride General Li’s battle-tested pure white charger."
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There is another copy of this print at the Ishibi Prefectural Museum.
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The text reads partially: 北京第一万夫不当の勇士なり 梁山泊の大敵を一戦に討やぶり大に悦び飛虎峪に陣取す 此時仲冬天気にて風起一昼夜の大雪に上じて呉用が計にて陥穴を作りしうゑゝ雪大に降積り有りしにあやまつて馬諸ともに
warrior prints (musha-e - 武者絵) (genre)
Kagaya Kichiemon (加賀屋吉右衛門) (publisher)
Suikoden (水滸傳) (genre)