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One Hundred Chinese Boys

18th century
Not on view
A sumptuous estate, including a bridge and pavilion over a lake, is set off by a shimmering gilded background and golden clouds and enlivened by cavorting children. The conventional motif of One Hundred Children has obvious auspicious connotations in the Chinese tradition. Here, the ancient subject is combined with the moralizing theme of the Four Gentlemanly Accomplishments (calligraphy, painting, music, and the game of go), which engage the children. One Hundred Children became one of the most popular themes among the Kano painters, the official artists who worked for the shoguns and their vassals during the Edo period. The anonymous painter of this screen seems to have based it on a readily available model. The dry, mannered execution of the landscape elements points to a date in the eighteenth century for this work.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: One Hundred Chinese Boys
  • Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
  • Date: 18th century
  • Culture: Japan
  • Medium: Six-panel folding screen; ink, color, and gold on gilded paper
  • Dimensions: Image: 49 in. × 9 ft. 3 1/2 in. (124.5 × 283.2 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Gift of Susan Dillon, 2004
  • Object Number: 2004.505
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

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“Takebun,” from the Musical Drama “The New Piece” (Shinkyoku), Pair of six-panel folding screens; ink, color, gold and silver leaf on paper, Japan
“Takebun,” from the Musical Drama “The New Piece” (Shinkyoku)
Japan
early 17th century
Goose and Reeds; Willows in the Moonlight, Maruyama Ōkyo 円山応挙 Japanese, Pair of six-panel folding screens; ink, color and gold on paper, Japan
Goose and Reeds; Willows in the Moonlight
Maruyama Ōkyo 円山応挙
right screen: 1774; left screen: 1793
Rough Waves, Ogata Kōrin Japanese, Two-panel folding screen; ink, color, and gold leaf on paper, Japan
Rough Waves
Ogata Kōrin
ca. 1704–9
Willows and Bridge, Pair of six-panel folding screens; ink, color, copper, gold, and gold leaf on paper, Japan
Willows and Bridge
Japan
early 17th century
Irises at Yatsuhashi (Eight Bridges), Ogata Kōrin Japanese, Pair of six-panel folding screens; ink and color on gold leaf on paper, Japan
Irises at Yatsuhashi (Eight Bridges)
Ogata Kōrin
after 1709

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