diptych print
- Museum number
- 2008,3037.18225
- Description
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Woodblock diptych print, oban tate-e. A scene from the kabuki play 'Yoshitsune senbon zakura' performed at the Kawarasaki theatre in the autumn of 1847. The actor Nakamura Utaemon IV as the fox Genkuro (left), disguised as Sato Tadanobu, leaping from a balcony, and Onoe Baiko (Kikugoro IV) as Yoshitsune's mistress, Shizuka-gozen (right), holding out a sword in self-defence.
- Production date
- 1847
- Dimensions
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Height: 35.90 centimetres (l)
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Height: 36.10 centimetres (r)
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Width: 24.90 centimetres (l)
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Width: 24.90 centimetres (r)
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
- Kabuki actors Nakamura Utaemon IV (1798–1852) and Onoe Kikugoro- IV (Baiko- IV, 1808–60) appear in the roles of Genkuro- the Fox (Genkuro--gitsune, left) and Lady Shizuka (Shizuka-gozen, right), in a scene from Yoshitsune senbon-zakura (Yoshitsune and the Thousand Cherry Trees). This performance was staged in the ninth month, 1847, at the Kawarasaki Theatre in Edo. The play interweaves several stories around the figure of Minamoto no Yoshitsune (1159–89), a famous general who played a crucial part in helping his half-brother Yoritomo defeat the rival Taira clan and become shogun in the late twelfth century. Shizuka Gozen is Yoshitsune’s favourite concubine, and when he is forced to flee Kyoto after incurring his brother’s enmity, she catches up with him at the Fushimi Inari shrine and pleads not to be left behind. Yoshitsune rejects her plea, but gives her a valuable hand-drum and entrusts her into the care of one of his retainers, Sato- Tadanobu, who unexpectedly appears at the shrine. The scene depicted here is the climax of Act Four, when Tadanobu arrives from the north in search of his master Yoshitsune, who is in hiding at a warrior-monk’s mansion in Yoshino. When questioned about the whereabouts of Shizuka, he claims to know nothing about her. Just at that moment, Shizuka and a second, imposter Tadanobu arrive at the mansion. It is revealed that the Tadanobu who is accompanying Shizuka is in fact a magical fox in disguise. The drum Shizuka carries was made from the skins of the fox’s parents, and so he wishes to stay close to them. Shizuka uses the drum to summon the imposter Tadanobu, and the print shows her about to attack him with a sword. Fox Tadanobu has already revealed his true identity, symbolized by the way he holds his hands like paws, and he jumps from the verandah railing to escape her. To portray the magical fox, the actor had to use an exciting combination of quick costume changes, acrobatics, as well as distinctive vocal techniques, and hand and body movements. [AR]
- Location
- Not on display
- Exhibition history
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Exhibited:
2013 3 Oct - 2014 5 Jan, London, BM, Shunga: Sex and pleasure in Japanese art, 1600-1900
- Associated titles
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Associated Title: Senbon Zakura
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Associated Title: Heike monogatari
- Acquisition date
- 2008
- Department
- Asia
- Registration number
- 2008,3037.18225
- Additional IDs
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Previous owner/ex-collection number: 18225 (Miller Collection number)
