Many of these stories are from Chinese and Japanese literature, legend and mythology. Chinese tales had a great influence on Japanese art and culture, particularly during the Nara period (710–84). Also apparent in Tsukioka Yoshitoshi’s prints are the influences of historical events, politics and religion, in particular the adoption of Zen Buddhism and Confucian beliefs during the Tokugawa period (1568–1868). While some of the stories are set in China and feature historical Chinese costume and characters, others are fables particular to Japanese life and culture and were well known to audiences of the time.
