Japanese and Chinese Comparisons for the Chapters of
Genji
(Wakan nazorae
Genji, 和漢准源氏)
Publisher: Ise-Yoshi
1855-1856
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 standard forms of the crests
are reproduced below, but they do not always correspond with the chapter
assigned to each print by Robinson. In
this series, Kuniyoshi paired scenes from history, fiction, and legend with related
chapters from the novel. The total
number of prints in this series is unknown, but all the prints known to
Robinson are listed and pictured below.
The prints are each about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size
known as ôban.
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Chapter number: 1 Chapter name:
Kiritsubo ( Scene:
Chichibu Shôji Shigetada carrying his blindfolded horse down the steep hill
at Hiyodori-goe Robinson:
S88.1 |
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Another state of the above
design |
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Chapter number: 6 Chapter name:
Suetsumuhana (Safflower) Scene: Mukwan-no
tayû Atsumori riding out to sea at Ichi-no-tani while Kumagae Naozane hails
him from shore Robinson:
S88.6 |
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Chapter number: 8 Chapter name:
Hana no en (Festival of Cherry
Blossoms) Scene:
Shanaô (Yoshitsune) leaping among the pine trees of Kuramayama to the
astonishment of his tengu fencing
partners and their king who sits in the background Robinson:
S88.8 NOTE: Tengu are forest-dwelling creatures
that are either human-like with wings and long noses or bird-like. |
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Chapter number: 12 Chapter name:
Suma (Suma) Scene:
Kwaidô Maru up a tree with the monkeys watched by his mother, Yama-uba, below Robinson:
S88.12 I am grateful to Ward Pieters
for locating this image. |
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Chapter number: 13 Chapter name:
Scene:
Baba Robinson:
S88.13 |
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Chapter number: 15 Chapter name:
Yomogyû (Wormwood Patch) Scene: Momotarô
(Little Peachling), a monkey, a badger a pheasant and captive demon with “the
five precious things” on stand behind them Robinson:
S88.15 |
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Chapter number: 16 Chapter name:
Sekiya (The Gatehouse) Scene:
Kwanu on horseback destroying “The 5 Barriers” loping off heads with a pole
arm left and right Robinson:
S88.16 |
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Chapter number: 17 Chapter name:
E-awase (Picture Contest) Scene: Iga
Jutarô, on foot, seizes a mounted foe by the belt Robinson:
S88.17 |
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Chapter number: 19 Chapter name:
Usugumo (薄雲,
Wisps of Cloud) Scene: Raikô,
who is ill, drawing his sword as the Earth-Spider envelops him in its web Robinson:
S88.19 |
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Chapter number: 21 Chapter name: Otome (乙女, The Maiden) Scene:
Prince Hansoku of Robinson:
S88.21 |
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Chapter number: 22 Chapter name:
Tamakazura (玉っつら, Jewel Garland) Scene:
Takeshiuchi-no-sukune looking over the side of his ship and being offered two
magic jewels (senju and manju) by the Dragon King Robinson:
S88.22 |
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Chapter number: 23 Chapter name:
Hatsune (First Warbler) Scene:
Keyamura Rokusuke wrestling before an audience of noblemen Robinson:
S88.23 |
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Chapter number: 25 Chapter name:
Hotaru (Fireflies) Scene: Shinozuka
Iga no Kami single-handedly hoisting a ship’s sail to the amazement of
members of the crew Robinson:
S88.25 |
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Chapter number: 27 Chapter name:
Kagaribi (Flares) Scene:
Yamatotakeru-no-mikoto using his “grass-mowing sword” to foil an attempt to
trap him in burning grass Robinson:
S88.27 |
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Chapter number: 28 Chapter name:
Nowaki (野わき, Typhoon) Scene:
Kidô Maru seated on a water buffalo draws his sword as Raikô and his
followers approach over the Ichihara Moor Robinson:
S88.28 |
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Another state of the above
design |
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Chapter number: 29 Chapter name:
Miyuki (御幸, Royal Outing) Scene:
Hyôshitô Rinchû emerging from a temple with spear in hand watching three
straw-cloaked men in discussion. This
is a scene from the semi-historical Chinese novel, Suikoden. Robinson:
S88.29 |
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Chapter number: 30 Chapter name:
Fujibakama (Purple Trousers) Scene:
Watônai (Katô Kiyomasa) on the Korean shore with two retainers Robinson:
S88.30 |
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Chapter number: 31 Chapter name: Maki-bashira (まき柱, Cypress Pillar) Scene:
Sagi-no-ike Heikurô wrestling with a giant python in the mountains Robinson:
S88.31 |
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Chapter number: 33 Chapter name:
Scene:
Takeda Shingen of Kai armed and seated at the foot of Robinson:
S88.33 |
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Chapter number: 34 Chapter name:
Wakana no jô (New Herbs, Part I) Scene: Abe
no Sadatô being persued by Hachiman-tarô Yoshi-ie, both on horseback Robinson:
S88.34 |
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Chapter number: 37 Chapter name:
Yokobue (よこ笛, The Flute) Scene:
Ushiwaka Maru playing his flute on Gojô Bridge with Benkei lurking in the
background Robinson:
S88.37 |
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Chapter number: 38 Chapter name:
Suzumushi (Bell Cricket) Scene: The
great wrestler Kyumonryô Shishin seated on a bamboo bench beneath which are two
piglets with a woman and child behind.
This is a scene from the semi-historical Chinese novel, Suikoden. Robinson:
S88.38 |
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Chapter number: 40 Chapter name:
Minori (みの里, The Rights) Scene: Suzuki
Saemon Shigeyuki lying in ambush and aiming his pistol at Nobunaga Robinson:
S88.40 |
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Chapter number: 42 Chapter name:
Niônomiya (His Perfumed Highness) Scene:
Mega Magosaburô at the Battle of Miidera defending the gateway amid a hail of
arrows Robinson:
S88.42 |
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Chapter number: 48 Chapter name:
Sawarabi (早蕨, Early Ferns) Scene:
Gyôja Bushô (hero of the semi-historical Chinese novel, Suikoden) overcoming a tiger with his bare hands Robinson:
S88.48 |
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Chapter number: 51 Chapter name:
Ukifune (Boat on the Water) Scene: Nogi
Nyûdô Raigen using a wooden shield (tate)
as a raft and paddling with a naginata
amid a flight of arrows Robinson:
S88.51 |
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Chapter number: 52 Chapter name:
Kagerô (蜻蛉, Boat on the Water) Scene:
Akushichibyôe Kagekiyo struggling with several men who are trying to arrest
him in front of a broken wooden grating Robinson:
S88.52 |
“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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