Five Chivalrous Commoners Likened to the Five Generals

(Go shôgun mitate gonin otoko, 五将軍見立五人男)

Publisher: Ise-ya Sanjirô

1843

 

This series shows kabuki actors as otokodate (chivalrous commoners) likened to the five Chinese generals in the 14th century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms.  Because of a ban on actor prints, four of the five actors are identified by their lesser-known poetry names.  This series is not listed in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961).  The prints are each about 10 by 14 inches (25 by 36 centimeters), a size known as ôban.  I am grateful to Robert Pryor for his contributions to this series.

 

 

Actor: Ichikawa Kuzô II

Poetry name: Ichikawa Sanen (市川三猿)

General: Huang Zhong (Japanese name Kôchû, 黄忠)

Role: Asahina Tôbei (朝比奈茂兵衛)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actor: Sawamura Tosshô I (澤村訥升)

Poetry name: Not given

General: Zhao Yun (Japanese name Chôun, 趙雲)

Role: Ume no Yoshibe (梅のよし兵衛)

 

NOTE: This print exists both with and without red eye makeup:

                

 

Actor: Ichikawa Ebizô V

Poetry name: Ichikawa Hakuen III (市川白猿)

General: Guan Yu (Japanese name Kan’u, 關羽)

Role: Banzui Chôbei (ばんずい長兵衛)

 

 

 

 

Actor: Ichimura Uzaemon XII

Poetry name: Ichimura Kakitsu (市村家橘)

General: Ma Chao (Japanese name Bachô, 馬超)

Role: Shibori Somegorô (絞染五郎)

 

NOTE: This print exists both with and without red eye makeup:

 

Actor: Nakamura Utaemon IV

Poetry name: Nakamura Kanjaku (中村翫雀)

General: Zhang Fei (Japanese name Chôhi, 張飛)

Role: Tôken Gombei (とうけんごん兵衛)

 

 

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