Tōkaibō with a Fishing Basket
Dynamically rendered in pale gray ink, a wizened Chinese sagelike figure holds a fishing basket while sitting in a thatched lean-to. His courtier’s cap, gourd jug, and the rocky crag he sits on are highlighted in dark tones. The scene refers to a legendary event in the life of the Chinese nobleman Jiang Ziya (fl. 11th century BC), who is better known as Grand Duke Wang (Taigong Wang), or in Japanese as Taikōbō. One day, legend has it, Emperor Wu Wang while on a hunting trip came across Jiang Ziya fishing and was surprised to learn that the old man did not bait his hook, but waited for the fish to come to him, and was not concerned if he caught no fish at all. Impressed by his strategy of patience, the emperor brought him on as a military advisor, who ultimately helped Kings Wen and Wu of Zhou overthrow the Shang.
The presence of the small seal reading “Soga Teruo” helps narrow down the date of execution to around 1768.
The presence of the small seal reading “Soga Teruo” helps narrow down the date of execution to around 1768.
Artwork Details
- 曽我蕭白筆 太公望図
- Title: Tōkaibō with a Fishing Basket
- Artist: Soga Shōhaku (Japanese, 1730–1781)
- Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
- Date: ca. 1768
- Culture: Japan
- Medium: Hanging scroll; ink on paper
- Dimensions: Image: 52 1/2 in. × 21 in. (133.4 × 53.3 cm)
Overall with mounting: 80 × 25 3/16 in. (203.2 × 64 cm)
Overall with knobs: 80 × 27 1/4 in. (203.2 × 69.2 cm) - Classification: Paintings
- Credit Line: Gift of Florence and Herbert Irving, 2015
- Object Number: 2015.500.9.4
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Soga Shōhaku
ca. 1761–63
Soga Shōhaku
ca. 1762–66
Returned to lender
Soga Shōhaku
ca. 1760–67
Returned to lender
Soga Shōhaku
ca. 1760–64
Returned to lender
Soga Shōhaku
ca. 1772–81
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.