Ukiyo-e Comparisons of the Cloudy Chapters of Genji,

Part III

 

Kuniyoshi - Ukiyo-e Comparisons of the Cloudy Chapters of Genji (S45

 

Chapter number: 41

Chapter name: Maboroshi (, The Wizard)

Scene: The evil magician Nikki Danjô Naonori (仁木直則) in court robes standing in front of a cloud of smoke

Robinson: S45.41

 

NOTE: The discoloration of Nikki Danjô’s clothing is chemically changed ink–not dirt.

Kuniyoshi - Ukiyo-e Comparisons of the Cloudy Chapters of Genji (S45

 

Another state of the above print

Kuniyoshi - Ukiyo-e Comparisons of the Cloudy Chapters of Genji (S45

     

Chapter number: 42

Chapter name: Niônomiya (匂宮, His Perfumed Highness)

Scene: Ushiwaka Maru, disguised as Torazô (寅蔵実ハ牛若丸), holding a document box with Minazuru-hime (皆鶴姫) standing behind him

Robinson: S45.42

 

    

Chapter number: 43

Chapter name: Kôbai (紅梅, The Rose Plum)

Scene: Keyamura Rokusuke (毛谷村六助) with O-Sono (於園) behind him holding plum blossoms

Robinson: S45.43

Kuniyoshi - Ukiyo-e Comparisons of the Cloudy Chapters of Genji (S45

     

Chapter number: 44

Chapter name: Takegawa (竹川, Bamboo River)

Scene: Sakingo Ashikaga Yorikane (左金吾頼兼) by moonlight, with drawn dirk and two hanks of hair; having just murdered the courtesan Takao

Robinson: S45.44

 

   

Chapter number: 45

Chapter name: Hashihime (橋姫, Lady at the Bridge)

Scene: Chidori (腰元千鳥) escaping from a castle two swords pursued by two men in a scene from the kabuki play Sembonzakura

Robinson: S45.45

 

   

Chapter number: 46

Chapter name: Shii-ga-moto (椎本, Beneath the Oak Tree)

Scene: Gonta (権太) picking up petals watched by Wakaba-no-naishi (若葉内侍) and her son Rokudai-gozen (六代御前)

Robinson: S45.46

Kuniyoshi - Ukiyo-e Comparisons of the Cloudy Chapters of Genji (S45

 

Chapter number: 47

Chapter name: Agemaki (総角, Tasseled Knots)

Scene: Actor Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Sukeroku (祐六) with drawn sword tossing Sempei (せん平) in the air in a scene from the kabuki play Sukeroku

Robinson: S45.47

Kuniyoshi - Ukiyo-e Comparisons of the Cloudy Chapters of Genji (S45.48), Lady Masaoka seated on a balcony watching her son Chimatsu enjoying sweets from a large box

 

Chapter number: 48

Chapter name: Sawarabi (早蕨, Early Ferns)

Scene: Lady Masaoka (政岡) seated on a balcony watching her son Chimatsu (千松) enjoying sweets from a large box

Robinson: S45.48

Kuniyoshi - Ukiyo-e Comparisons of the Cloudy Chapters of Genji (S45.48), Lady Masaoka seated on a balcony watching her son Chimatsu enjoying sweets from a large box (Green)

 

I am grateful to Stuart Varnam-Atkin for this alternative state of the above design.

 

Kuniyoshi - Ukiyo-e Comparisons of the Cloudy Chapters of Genji (S45

 

    

Chapter number: 49

Chapter name: Yadorigi (宿木, The Ivy)

Scene: Actor Onoe Kikugorô III as Kwanshôjô (菅相丞) turning away from actor Iwai Kumesaburô as Kariya-hime (苅屋姫) in a scene from the kabuki play Sugawara

Robinson: S45.49

Kuniyoshi - Ukiyo-e Comparisons of the Cloudy Chapters of Genji (S45

 

    

Chapter number: 50

Chapter name: Azumaya (東屋, Eastern Cottage)

Scene: The low-ranking retainer (ashigaru) Kichiemon (足軽吉右エ門) arranging sandals from a scene in the Ichimisai-Kyôgoku revenge story

Robinson: S45.50

Kuniyoshi - Ukiyo-e Comparisons of the Cloudy Chapters of Genji (S45

 

Another state of the above print

Kuniyoshi - Ukiyo-e Comparisons of the Cloudy Chapters of Genji (S45

 

   

Chapter number: 51

Chapter name: Ukifune (浮舟, Boat on the Water)

Scene: O-Matsu (おまつ) attacking Akabori Mizuemon (赤堀水右衛門) on a boat

Robinson: S45.51

Kuniyoshi - Ukiyo-e Comparisons of the Cloudy Chapters of Genji (S45

 

    

Chapter number: 52

Chapter name: Kagerô (蜻蛉, Drake Fly)

Scene: Actor Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as sumô wrestler Akitsushima (秋津嶋) holding a long scroll in a scene from the kabuki play Shôbuzuke

Robinson: S45.52

Kuniyoshi - Ukiyo-e Comparisons of the Cloudy Chapters of Genji (S45

 

This is another version of the above print.  Although less faded, it is a less labor-intensive printing, which almost invariably means a later edition.  In this print, the delicate shading (bokashi) in the background 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.

Kuniyoshi - Ukiyo-e Comparisons of the Cloudy Chapters of Genji (S45

 

Chapter number: 53

Chapter name: Tenarai (手習, Writing Practice)

Scene: Matsuô Maru (松王丸) holding his sheathed sword under the chin of a kneeling boy with Gemba (玄蕃) in red makeup behind him in a scene from the kabuki play Sugawara

Robinson: S45.53

Kuniyoshi - Ukiyo-e Comparisons of the Cloudy Chapters of Genji (S45

 

Another state of the above design courtesy of Marc DeVriese

Kuniyoshi - Ukiyo-e Comparisons of the Cloudy Chapters of Genji (S45

 

 

Chapter number: 54

Chapter name: Yume-no-Ukihashi (夢浮橋, Floating Bridge of Dreams)

Scene: Actor Nakamura Utaemon IV as Aoto Fujitsuna (青砥藤綱) seated on a stool before a fire with his sword bearer behind him in a scene from the kabuki play Aoto-zôshi

Robinson: S45.54

 

Supplement 1

Title: Kumokakure (雲隠, Behind the Clouds)

Scene: Actor Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Matsugae Sekinosuke (松ヶ枝関之助) in red kabuki makeup holding a knife in front of a lakeside teahouse

Robinson: S45.55

 

NOTE: This print and the other five supplementary designs are titled Gleanings from the Cloudy Chapters of Genji (Genji kumo shui, 源氏雲拾遺) instead of Ukiyo-e Comparisons of the Cloudy Chapters of Genji (Genji kumo ukiyoe awase, 源氏雲浮世画合)

Kuniyoshi - Ukiyo-e Comparisons of the Cloudy Chapters of Genji (S45

 

Another state of the above design

 

Supplement 2

Title: Sumori (巣守, Guarding the Nest)

Scene: Kakugawa Monzô with his daughter Namiko (representing Kakogawa Honzô (加久川門蔵) and his daughter Konami (娘なみこ) in the Chûshingura) 

Robinson: S45.56

Kuniyoshi - Ukiyo-e Comparisons of the Cloudy Chapters of Genji (S45

 

Supplement 3

Title: Sakurabito (櫻人, Cherry Blossom-man)

Scene: Seigen (清玄) holding the sleeve of a cringing Sakura-hime (さくら姫) in front of a smoking brazier

Robinson: S45.57

Kuniyoshi - Ukiyo-e Comparisons of the Cloudy Chapters of Genji (S45

 

Supplement 4

Title: Norinoshi (法の師, Teacher of Rites)

Scene: Actor Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Oniwaka Maru (鬼若丸, childhood name of Benkei) overcoming a man who was trying to bind him with a rope

Robinson: S45.58

Kuniyoshi - Ukiyo-e Comparisons of the Cloudy Chapters of Genji (S45

 

Supplement 5

Title: Hibariko (雲雀子, The Lark)

Scene: Actor Nakamura Utaemon IV as Udaijin Toyonari (右大臣豊成) chucking a kneeling Chûjô-hime (中将姫) under the chin

Robinson: S45.59

Kuniyoshi - Ukiyo-e Comparisons of the Cloudy Chapters of Genji (S45

 

Supplement 6

Title: Yatsuhashi (八橋)

Scene: Actor Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Teranishi Kanshin (寺西閑心) crossing a bridge over an iris pond in a scene from the kabuki play Hiyoku no inazuma

Robinson: S45.60

 

“Robinson” refers to listing in Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982) and its privately published supplement.

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