Orchids, 1849, Ōtsuki Bankei, Japanese, 1801 - 1878, 14 1/8 x 209 1/2in. ( x ), Ink on paper, Japan, 19th century, Since the time of Ch'u Yuan (332-268) in China, the orchid has symbolized the purity and uncompromising moral fortitude of scholars. O_tsuki Bankei was renowned as a Confucian scholar and served as an imperial tutor. He was dismayed when Japan was unable to resist demands from western countries to open its ports to international trade in the mid-19th century. For a time he was even imprisoned for his involvement with the resistance forces.

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Keywords: -, 1801, 1849, 1878, bankei, japanese, orchids, Ōtsuki