Calendar Print (Egoyomi) of Monkey King Sun Wukong (Songoku) Possibly 1812

Editor: This is a calendar print by Kubo Shunman, depicting the Monkey King, Sun Wukong. It's intriguing how a mythical figure is presented in what seems like everyday media. What role did these calendar prints play in society? Curator: These "egoyomi," or picture calendars, were ways to subtly communicate the calendar to a largely illiterate population. Shunman, using the popular character Sun Wukong, could playfully engage with social norms and traditions under the guise of entertainment. Who do you think was the target audience for these prints? Editor: Perhaps merchants or those in urban settings who had some disposable income and an interest in popular culture. I hadn't considered the subversive potential in something seemingly so functional! Curator: Exactly! It reveals how art functioned as a tool for communication, social commentary, and even resistance in Edo-period Japan. I am glad to have added new meaning to this print for you.