Hakkenden
Nanso Satomi Hakkenden or The Tale of the Eight Dog Warriors
In this famous kabuki play, eight
sons are born to a princess and a sacred dog she married. Each of the brothers
(dog warriors) represents one of the eight Confucian virtues and carries a charm with the character for the virtue which he embodies.
Separated at birth, the brothers are initially unaware of each other's true identity.
Inazuka, a free-spirited
rebel, and Inatsuna, a police officer sent to capture him, confront each
other on the rooftop of a temple in one of the most famous fight scenes in kabuki, with lots of acrobatics and dramatics.
Ultimately the brothers recognize one another, and the rebel submits to authority.
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Subject: The diptych
illustrates the famous rooftop fight scene between Inuzuka, the free-spirited
rebel (right), and Inutsuna, a police officer sent to capture him
(left). At this moment of the fight, Inazuka is fighting for control on the slippery
temple rooftop,
while Inatsuna raises his jutte (iron truncheon) to strike. Beside him is a huge roof ornament, a giant dragon fish whose open mouth seems to be biting down on the crossbeam.
Two original Japanese woodblock prints by Utagawa Kunisada I, diptych printed in 1825.
Signatures and Seals: Signed by Gototei Kunisada." The publisher is
Sen-Ichi. There is a kiwame seal (used 1790-1840).
Dimensions: 19 x 14 inches, total.
Impression: Excellent.
Condition: Good-Very Good. Binding holes, backed with old Japanese calligraphy paper, creased and reinforced corners.
The artist, Kunisada, is considered one of the most famous 19th century
Nishiki-e painters for woodblock prints.
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Subject: Another
view of two police officers attempting to arrest Inazuka, the free-spirited
rebel, on the temple rooftop. One officer confronts Inazuka with a jutte (iron truncheon)
in his right hand while blocking Inazuka's sword strike with his left
hand on his elbow. Another officer wraps the dog warrior in chains
before slipping and falling on the roof tiles.
An original
Japanese woodblock print, Inazuka Shiro, by Ichiyusai Kunitoshi, printed in
the 1830s.
Dimensions: 10 x 14 inches.
Impression: Excellent.
Condition: Excellent.
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