Diptychs, triptychs, and polyptychs of children

Unless otherwise noted, the individual sheets are each about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban.

Series: Famous Views of Edo (Edo shôkei) Title: View of Edo Eitai Bridge and Mitsumata as Seen from Nakazu (Nakazu yori Mitsumata Eitaibashi o miru no zu, 江都勝景中洲より三つまた永代ばしを見る図) Description: Children flying kites Date: 1843 Publisher: Sano-ya Kihei
Another state of the above triptych published by Sôshû-ya Yohei. It is a less labor-intensive printing than the preceding, which almost invariably means a later edition. In this print, the dark blue in the water was omitted.
Title: The Battle of Ishibashiyama Played by Children (Kodomo asobi Ishibashiyama, 子供遊石はし山) Description: Children reenacting the Battle of Ishibashiyama Date: 11^th month of 1855 Publisher: Jôshû-ya Kinzô
I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this alternate state without any purple.
Title: Children reenacting Narihira’s Journey to the East (Osana Narihira azuma kudari, 稚業平東下り) Description: Children reenacting an episode from Chapter 9 of Ise Monogatari Date: 1842-1843 (censor Takano Shin’emon) Publisher: Wakasa-ya Yoichi
I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this alternate state.
Description: Boys in a mock daimyo procession on the shore at sunset Date: c. 1840 Publisher: Izumi-ya Ichibei
Title: Children’s Calligraphy Contest (幼童席 書会, Yôdô sekigakikai) Date: c. 1843 Publisher: Yamashiro-ya
Title: Precious Children (Kodakara asobi, 子宝遊) Description: Children playing with the kanji for treasure (takara, 寳) Date: c. 1840-1842 Publisher: Iba-ya Sensaburô
Title: The First Painting and Calligraphy of the New Year Description: Date: c. 1843 Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Uhei
Title: Children Playing with the Seven Gods of Good Fortune Description: Date: 1838 Publisher: Izumi-ya Ichibei
Title: Children at Play: Raising the Roof of a Storehouse (Kodomo asobi dozô no muneage, 子供遊土蔵之上棟) Description: Date: c. 1843 Publisher: Jôshû-ya Kinzô
I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this alternate state of the above design with a solid red title cartouche.
Title: Procession of Children on the Occasion of the Opening of the Tametomo Shrine at Ryôgoku Description: Date: 1851 Publisher: Koga-ya Katsugorô
Title: The Exercise of Martial Arts by Children: Spring, 四ッ廼民稚模様 春)　 Description: Boys playing at different forms of combat Date: 4^th month of 1858 Publisher: Yahata-ya Sakujirô
Another state of the above design
Description: Children as Okaru (おかる, left) and Kanpei (かん平, right) performing a scene from the kabuki play Kanadehon Chûshingura Date: c. 1841-1842 Publisher: Nuno-Kichi NOTE: The text on each sheet reads A Collection of children’s dances (Kodomo odori zukushi, 子供踊尽)
Another state of the above design
Series: Collection of Dances by Children (Kodomo odori zukushi, 子供踊尽) Robinson: 123 (possibly) Size: Ôban triptych (each sheet about 10 by 14 inches or 25 by 36 centimeters) Description: Children as Munesada (宗貞, right), Sekibei (関兵衛, center), and Komachi-hime (小町姫, left) performing a scene from the kabuki play Tsumoru koi yukino seki no to (積恋雪関扉) Date: c. 1843 Publisher: Izumi-ya Ichibei NOTE: Tsumoru koi yukino seki no to was staged at the Ichimura Theater in the 2^nd month of 1843.
I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this alternate state of the above design without any purple.
Description: Children as the geisha Oshiyun (おしゅん, left), the monkey trainer (sarumawashi) Yojirô (猿まはし与次郎, center), and Izutsuya Denbei (傳兵衛, right) performing a scene from the kabuki play Sarumawashi kadode no Hitofushi (猿曳門出諷) Date: c. 1841-1842 Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Uhei (川口屋守兵衛) NOTE: The text on each sheet reads A collection of children’s dances (Kodomo odori zukushi, 子供踊尽)
Description: Children as the yakko (servant) (丹前 奴, left), Sugata (昔絵すがた, center), and Tanzen (丹前風, right) in a scene from the kabuki play Sono Sugata Hana no Utsushie (其姿花図繪), which is also known as Mitsu Ningyô, which is written here as 三津人形, but can also be written as 三人形 or as 三つ人形. Date: c. 1841-1842 Publisher: Izumi-ya Ichibei (the seal of another publisher was crudely removed from the left lower corner of each sheet) NOTE: The text on each sheet reads A collection of children’s dances (Kodomo odori zukushi, 子供踊尽) and Mitsu doll (三津人形). I am grateful to Lucienne Parkan for information about this triptych.
Series: None Robinson: This triptych is listed as T49 in Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982) Title: A Set of Heroic Children (Osanashi-dachi buyû soroi) Description: Below are the names of the thirty-six boys represented, each followed in parentheses by his adult name, or other information given on the print: RIGHT-HAND SHEET (right-hand edge, top to bottom): Tokuju Maru (Nitta Yoshioki), Hako-ô Maru (Soga Gorô Tokimune), Ichiman Maru (Soga Jurô Sukenari), Aza Maru (Aku-shichibyôye Kagekiyo) (middle): Shiragiku Maru (novice of Gwagôji), Uhyôye-no-suke Minamoto no Yoritomo (fifth son of Yoshitomo), Gorô Maru (Mimmaya no Shigemune) (left-hand side): Juô Maru (Ôtomo no Sukune Kanamura), Onzôshi Tametomo (eighth son of Tameyoshi), Bijô Maru (son of Minamoto no Yorinobu, Kaidômaru (Sakata no Kintoki), Hyôzô (Tetsu Kôdzuke, son of a farmer of Echigo) MIDDLE SHEET (right-hand side): Kana-ishi Maru (Kudô Suketsune), Kôju Maru (son of Fujiwara no Nakamitsu), Wada Masatora (Genshû), Taira no Tomoakira (son of Tomomori), Oniwaka Maru (Musashi-bô Benkei) (middle): Ushiwaka Maru (Kurô Hangwan Yoshitsune), Ariô Maru (page to Shunkwan), Chikudô Maru, Mukwan-no-tayû Atsumori (son of Sammi Tsunemori) (left-hand side): Wakiya Yoshiharu (son of Yoshisuke and younger brother of Nitta Yoshisada) , Nagasaki Jirô (page to Hôjô Takatoki), Kusunoki Masatsura (eldest son of Masashige), Kon-ô Maru (Tosa-bô Shôshun) LEFT-HAND SHEET (right-hand side): Kikuô Maru (page to Nôto no Kami Noritsune), Sôma Kotarô Yoshikado (son of Masakado) , Kamakura Gongorô Kagemasa (page to Yoshiiye), The Rough Boy of Usui-tôge (Usui Sadamitsu) (middle): Antoku Tennô, Tamon Maru (Kusunoki Masashige), Kojiro Nao-iye (son of Kumagaya Naozane) (left-hand side): Koma-ô Maru (Kiso Kwanja Yoshinaka), Hijiri Maru (page to Hioki Daizen), Kidô Maru (novice of Hiyeizan), Kichijô Maru (Ôtomo Yoshinao) Date: c. 1839-1841 Publisher: Izumi-ya Ichibei
	Series: Untitled Title: None Size: Kakemono-e, a vertical diptych with each panel about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters) Description: Two children with their heads partially shaved in an ancient Chinese style Date: c. 1842 Publisher: Arita-ya Seiemon I am grateful to Patricio Lynch for this image.
	Title: Portrait of Iwaki Tamayama, 7 years old (岩城玉山七歳肖像) Size: Kakemono-e, a vertical diptych with each panel about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters) Description: Portrait of a calligraphy prodigy with a hand print and example of his calligraphy Date: 1847-1852 Publisher: I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.
	Title: Children Playing as Diggers of the Well of Golden Water (子供遊金生水之掘抜, Kodomo asobi kinjôsui no horinuki) Size: Kakemono-e, a vertical diptych with each panel about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters) Description: Children using bamboo scaffolding to dig a well Date: 1842 Publisher: Jôshû-ya Kinzô
Title: Bustling New Year (Haru no nigiwahi, 春のにぎわひ) Description: Adults watching children at play Date: c. 1842 Publisher: Wakau I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.
Title: Children’s New Year Games (Kodakara haru asobi, 子宝春あそび) Description: Children playing various games Date: c. 1841 Publisher: I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.
Triptych title: Illustration of a Children’s Sukeroku Play (Onagusami kodomo Sukeroku kyôgen no zu (御慰子供助六狂言之図) Description: Children as kabuki actors in a sukeroku play Date: c. 1841-1842 Publisher: Izumi-ya Ichibei
I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this alternate state of the above design.

“Robinson” refers to listing of the series in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961).

CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO MAIN PAGE