Heroic Comparisons for the Chapters of Genji
(Buyû nazoraye Genji, 武勇准源氏)
Publisher: Iba-ya Sensaburô
c. 1843
The Tales of Genji (Genji monogatari) is the greatest novel in classical
Japanese literature, and arguably, the world’s first novel. It was written in the first decade of the
eleventh century by Lady Murasaki, and relates the womanizing exploits of
Prince Genji. Each of the fifty-four
chapters of the novel is named and is associated with a crest called a Genji-mon. Two different forms of the crests are
reproduced below. In this series of
prints, events in the lives of legendary people are matched with chapters
having titles related to the events.
All ten prints known to Robinson are illustrated, and it is unlikely
that any others exist. These prints
are about 14 by 6.5 inches (36 by 17 centimeters), a size known as ôtanzakuban. |
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Chapter number: 1 Chapter name: Kiritsubo (Paulownia Court, 桐壺) Scene: Takeshiuchi-no-sukune carrying
infant Emperor Ôjin on his shoulders Robinson: S28.1 |
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Chapter number: 4 Chapter name: Yûgao (Evening Faces, 夕顔) Scene: Ushiwaka (Yoshitsune) playing
his flute on Robinson: S28.4 |
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Chapter number: 7 Chapter name: Momiji no ga
(Autumn Outing) Scene: Taira no Koremochi awakening from a drunken sleep with a lady
behind him whose face is reflected in the sake
cup as that of a demon Robinson: S28.7 |
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Chapter number: 16 Chapter name: Sekiya (The
Gatehouse, 関屋) Scene: Minamoto no
Yoshi-iye riding past the Nakoso gatehouse (sekiya) on his
way from the subjugation of Mutsu Robinson: S28.16 |
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Chapter number: 18 Chapter name: Matsukaze (Wind in the Pines, 松風) Scene: The robber Chôhan seated under a pine tree having a large cup of sake poured for him by a member of his
band Robinson: S28.18 |
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Chapter number: 32 Chapter name: Umegae (Plum Branch, 梅枝) Scene: Kajiwara Genda Kagesuye fighting at Ikuta-no-mori with a plum branch (umegae) stuck
in his armor Robinson: S28.32 |
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Chapter number: 41 Chapter name: Maboroshi (The Wizard, 鈴虫) Scene: Satsuma no
Kami Tadanori (薩摩守忠度) in court robes with open fan
outside the home of Kiku-no-maye,
whom he was courting Robinson: S28.38 |
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Chapter number: 45 Chapter
name:
Hashihime (Lady at the Bridge, 橋姫) Scene: Watanabe no Tsuna encountering the demon-woman at Robinson: S28.45 |
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Chapter number: 49 Chapter name: Yadorigi (The Ivy, 宿木) Scene: Sano Tsuneyo’s wife disguised as the monk Saimyôji
cutting up a valuable bonsai for
fire wood while entertaining the regent Hôjô Tokiyori. This is
a scene from the noh
play Hachinoki
(The Potted Tree). Robinson: S28.46 |
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Chapter number: 51 Chapter name: Ukifune (Boat on the Water, 浮船) Scene: The death of
Nitta Yoshioki at the Yaguchi
Ferry in 1358 where he was shot down by the Ashikaga in ambush Robinson: S28.51 |
“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 |