Shōki

Dimension: 26 x 52 1/2 in.

Date: ca. 1897-1903

Shōki (Chinaese, Zhong Kui) is an example of Chinese legend that was adapted in Japan and became a part of Japanese folklore. Shōki is a “demon queller,” whose image is often included in the decoration for Japan’s May 5th festival . Although May 5th was believed to be the most harmful day in China, Japanese came to celebrate the day as “boys’ day.”, opens in a new window According to one legend, Shōki received first place on the highest level of the civil service examination, but committed suicide because the emperor Minghuang (712-756) did not honor him. Shōki’s appearance offended the emperor. Another legend tells that he failed to pass the exam and committed suicide. In either case, Shōki appeared in the dream of the sick emperor Minghuang and killed a demon who was about to steal the emperor’s flute and his consort Yan Guifei’s incense bag. When the emperor awoke from the dream, his sickness was gone. The emperor appreciated Shōki’s loyalty, and ordered Wu Daozi (active c. 710-760), a master of figure painting, to draw an image of Shōki as he appeared in the emperor’s dream. Momoko Welch Source: Oda, Eiichi. Chagake no gadai o shiru jiten: kaiga kakemono ni yomigaeru tōyō no kokoro. Kyoto: Kawara shoten, 2008, p.216. Bartholomew, Terese Tse. Hidden Meanings in Chinese Art. San Francisco: The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, 2006, pp. 281 and 285.