The Loyal Heroes of Bakin’s
“Hakkenden”
(Giyû Hakkenden, 義勇八犬傳)
Publisher: Kiyomizu-ya
1847-1848
This series of prints is based upon the novel Nansô Satomi Hakkenden (The Biography of Nansô Satomi and the Eight Dog Warriors) written by Takizawa Bakin (1767-1848). By a rather complicated set of circumstances, Fusehime, the daughter of Lord Anzai of the Satomi Clan, produces eight great warriors fathered by a dog. The majority of the novel’s 181 chapters relate their swashbuckling adventures. An actor is shown portraying each of the eight “dog heroes”. This series is listed as number 162 in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961). The prints 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 section. |
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Description: Actor Bandô Shûka I in the role of Inusaka Keno (犬坂毛乃) with a drawn
sword and geese flying in front of a full moon Schaap: 15.1 NOTE: This is the
first state with a red, white, and blue cartouche in the right upper
corner. |
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A later printing
with a solid red cartouche in the right upper corner |
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An additional
state of the above design |
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Description: Actor Arashi Kichisaburô III as Inukai Kenpachi (犬飼現八) pulling two
ropes with two doves flying overhead Schaap: 15.2 |
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Another state
with a solid red cartouche in the right upper corner |
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Description: Actor
Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Inuta Kobungo
Yasuyori (犬田小文吾忬順) with a
fishnet and crabs in the background Schaap: 15.3 |
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Another state
with a solid red cartouche in the right upper corner. This print demonstrates the way purple ink
can change color to brown. Only the
lower portion of the print has undergone this chemical change. |
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An additional
state of the above design |
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Description: Actor Iwai Kumesaburô III as Inue Shinbei (犬江親兵衛) with a
festival decoration Schaap: 15.4 |
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Another state
with a solid red cartouche in the right upper corner |
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Description: Actor
Ichikawa Ebizô V as Inuyama
Dôsetsu (犬山道節) holding his
in a magical pose with a pine tree in the background Schaap: 15.5 |
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Another state with a solid red
cartouche in the right upper corner |
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Description: Actor Sawamura Sojûrô V (Sawamura Chojûrô V from 1848)
as Inuzuka Shino (犬塚信乃) with drawn
sword and doves flying overhead Schaap: 15.6 |
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Another state with a solid red
cartouche in the right upper corner |
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Description: Actor
Ichimura Uzaemon XII as Inumura
Kakutaro (犬村角太郎) clutching a
scroll Schaap: 15.7 Information courtesy of Guy Pepermans |
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Another state with a grey belt |
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Description: Actor
Nakamura Utaemon IV as Inugawa
Sôsuke (犬川荘介) ready to draw
his sword with pine branches in the background Schaap: 15.8 |
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Another state with a grey background |
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Another state with a solid red
cartouche in the right upper corner |
“Schaap” refers to listing in ‘Heroes and Ghosts: Japanese
Prints by Kuniyoshi’ by Robert Schaap (Hotei
Publishing, Leiden, 1998). CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO MAIN
PAGE |