Stories of Remarkable Persons of Loyalty and High Reputation,

Part I

(Chûkô meiyo kijin den, 忠孝名誉奇人傳)

1845

 

The prints in this series are each about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban.  I am grateful to Robert Pryor for his contributions to this series.

 

Kuniyoshi - Stories of Remarkable Persons of Loyalty & High Reputation (S35

 

Scene: Hatchô Tsubute Kiheiji (八町礫喜平次) and his wife Yatsuhiro at the attack on the Aso family in Higo

Robinson: S35.1

Publisher: Ise-ya Ichibei

 

NOTE: Tsubute (), meaning stones, is a nickname referring to the force and accuracy of his throwing skill. 

Kiheiji

 

I am grateful to Davor Solter for this keyblock print. 

 

Scene: The sculptor Hidari Jinjorô ( 甚五郎) with his sculptures of a dragon and two lions coming to life

Robinson: S35.2

Publisher: Ise-ya Ichibei

 

Another state with a grey ground

Hidari%20Jinjoro

 

I am grateful to Davor Solter for this keyblock print. 

 

Scene: The courtesan Jigoku (地獄, meaning hell) enthroned under the patronage of the priest Ikkyû

Robinson: S35.3

Publisher: Enshû-ya Matabei

 

Another state with blue replacing purple

 

Another state with grey replacing purple

 

A greatly simplified state of the above design

Kuniyoshi - Stories of Remarkable Persons of Loyalty & High Reputation (S35

 

Scene: Kaji-jo (梶女) the poetess of the Gion district of Kyoto reclining and reading a letter

Robinson: S35.4

Publisher: Ise-ya Ichibei

 

Another state of the above design

Kuniyoshi - Stories of Remarkable Persons of Loyalty & High Reputation (S35

 

A keyblock print of Kaji-jo

 

Scene: Kane-jo (兼女) carrying her washing tub with runaway horse and a cowering groom in the background

Robinson: S35.5

Publisher: Ise-ya Ichibei

 

A keyblock print of O-Kane (Kane-jo), the strong woman from Ômi Province with the runaway temple horse.

 

Scene: The poetess Kikaku (其角) in a boat under a bridge during a shower of rain

Robinson: S35.6

Text: 夕立や田をミめぐりの神ならば

Publisher: Enshû-ya Matabei

 

Scene: Koshikibu-no-naishi (小式部内侍) with her servant at the Kitano Temple in Kyoto

Robinson: S35.7

Publisher: Ise-ya Ichibei

 

“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 GO TO PART II

 

image016