“Immortals” Lü´Dongbīn (Ryo Dōhin in Japanese) and Hán Xiāng Zi (Kan Shōshi in Japanese)

The iconographic details of this scroll differ slightly from the traditional depictions of “the eight immortals”. The central motif is one of “the three Tao Patriarchs” – Lü’Dongbīn, whose typical attribute is a sword to vanquish evil, which in this case rests on Lü’s back. Lü’s pupil, Hán Xiāng Zi, also has a sword on his back, though his typical attribute is a flute, whose sound benefits plants and tames wild animals. Lü’ Dongbīn holds a vessel for water in his hand, while Hán Xiāng Zi raises his index finger in a mentor-like gesture. The teacher and pupil are therefore presented as scholars rather than major strategists of the Han dynasty. Hokusai conceived this scroll in a different style than earlier figures of Chinese heroes. The “Fuji-san” seal below the signature only appeared in his works dating from the 1830s. It is an obvious emulation of the archaic character and purposeful clumsiness of “literati” painting figures.