Sei Shonagon , from the series Shika shashinkyo (A mirror of Chinese and Japanese verse)

Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) Sei Shonagon, from the series Shika shashinkyo (A mirror of Chinese and Japanese verse) Alluding to a poem by the writer Sei Shonagon about a crowing cock illustrated by a scene of the Chinese soldier Moshokun (Ch. Meng Chang-kun) and a companion tricking the guards of Kankokukan into opening the fortress gates by imitating the crow of a cock, shown in the lower right on a large drum, signed Zen Hokusai Iitsu hitsu and published by Moriya Jihei--very good impression, faint centerfold, slightly faded, soiled at bottom, stain at right edge at center, pin hole worming, repairs nagaban tate-e: 50.8 x 22.1cm.