Selection for the Twelve Signs
(Mitate jûnishi, 美盾十二史)
Various publishers
1845
|
The
Buddhist zodiac consists of twelve animals–rat, bull (or ox), tiger, hare, dragon,
serpent, horse, goat, monkey, cock, dog and boar. There is a story that only these twelve
animals came when called by Buddha, and this is the order in which they
came. These animals, including the rat
and serpent, have a better reputation in Buddhist countries than in the
West. In this series of prints,
various historical and mythical figures are likened to the twelve animals of
the zodiac. A tiny image of the
appropriate animal may be found on the edge of the title cartouche. The prints in this series are each about 14
by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban. |
|
|
Sign: Rat (Ne, 子) Scene: Yuki-hime (雪姫) clasping a sword Publisher: Ebi-ya Rinnosuke Robinson: S38.1 |
|
|
Sign: Ox (Ushi, 丑) Scene: Sakura Maru (さくら丸) holding the
rope of the imperial ox cart Publisher: Iba-ya Sensaburô Robinson: S38.2 |
|
|
Sign: Tiger (Tora, 寅) Scene: Soga Jurô Sukenari (曽我十郎祐成) holding a fan
and leaning on a palanquin Publisher: Ise-ya Ichibe Robinson: S38.3 NOTE: An |
|
|
Sign: Tiger (Tora, 寅) Scene: Tora Gozen (虎御前) standing by a
water cask, looking over her right shoulder and holding a kettle Publisher: Enshû-ya Matabei Robinson: S38.3a |
|
|
Sign: Hare (卯) Scene: Yama-uba (足柄山の姥) on Publisher: Enshû-ya Matabei Robinson: S38.4 Image courtesy of Richard Illing |
|
|
Sign: Dragon (Ryu, 辰) Scene: Tatsuyasha-hime (辰夜叉姫) in a pine
forest Publisher: Kojima Jûbei Robinson: S38.5 |
|
|
Sign: Snake (Mi, 巳) Scene: O-Roku (土手のお六) standing near
a shrine with a basket of wooden prayer-sticks behind her Publisher: Iba-ya Kyûbei Robinson: S38.6 NOTE: It is said
that even snakes were afraid of O-Roku |
|
|
Sign: Horse (Uma, 午) Scene: O-Miwa (おみわ) dancing on a
bridge at the Atake Barrier in order to obtain
passage Publisher: Ise-ya Sôemon Robinson: S38.7 |
|
|
Sign: Goat (Hitsuji, 未) Scene: O-Koma, daughter of Shirokiya (白木屋おこま) Publisher: Kojima Jûbei Robinson: S38.8 |
|
|
Sign: Monkey (Saru, 申) Scene: Yojirô (與次郎), brother of
the courtesan Otoshi, seated fan in hand by smoking
fire with refreshments before him Publisher: Iba-ya Sensaburô Robinson: S38.9 |
|
|
Sign: Cock (Tori, 酉) Scene: Sumô wrestler Sukune
Tarô (宿根太郎) under a
cherry tree Publisher: Enshû-ya Matabei Robinson: S38.10 |
|
|
Sign: Dog (Inu, 戌) Scene: Sumô wrestler Inuda
Kobungo (犬田小文吾) wearing
garment decorated with puppies is referee for wrestling crabs Publisher: Iba-ya Sensaburô Robinson: S38.11 NOTE: The round red
seal in the right lower corner is a collector’s seal, applied by an owner of
the print. Although once common, this
practice is now condemned. |
|
|
This is another state of the above print. It is a less labor-intensive printing than
the above, which almost invariably means a later edition. In this print, the delicate shading (bokashi) in the bean-shaped cartouche
was omitted. Bokashi was achieved by hand applying a gradation of ink to the
wooden printing block rather than inking the block uniformly. This hand-application had to be repeated
for each sheet of paper that was printed. |
|
|
Sign: Dog (Inu, 戌) Scene: Shirai Gompachi (白井権八) by a lantern
under a willow tree at night Publisher: Enshû-ya Matabei Robinson: S38.11a |
|
|
Sign: Boar (I, 亥) Scene: Yamamoto Kansuke Harukichi (山本勘助晴吉) in the snow
with a straw hat and a bamboo pole Publisher: Iba-ya Kyûbei Robinson: S38.12 |
|
|
Another state of the above print |
|
“Robinson” refers to listing in Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982) and its privately published supplement. CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO MAIN PAGE
|
