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.

 

Kuniyoshi - Japanese & Chinese Comparisons for the Chapters of Genji (S88

    

Chapter number: 1

Chapter name: Kiritsubo (桐壺, Paulownia Court)

Scene: Chichibu Shôji Shigetada (秩父荘司重忠) carrying his blindfolded horse down the steep hill at Hiyodori-goe

Robinson: S88.1

Kuniyoshi - Japanese & Chinese Comparisons for the Chapters of Genji (S88

 

Another state of the above design

Kuniyoshi - Japanese & Chinese Comparisons for the Chapters of Genji (S88

  

Chapter number: 6

Chapter name: Suetsumuhana (末摘花, The Saffron Flower)

Scene: Mukwan no Tayû Atsumori (無官太夫 敦盛) riding out to sea at Ichi-no-tani while Kumagae Naozane (熊谷直實) hails him from shore

Robinson: S88.6

Kuniyoshi - Japanese & Chinese Comparisons for the Chapters of Genji (S88

 

 

Chapter number: 8

Chapter name: Hana no En (花宴, Festival of Cherry Blossoms)

Scene: Shanaô (Buddhist name of Minamoto no 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.

Kuniyoshi - Japanese & Chinese Comparisons for the Chapters of Genji (S88

 

 

Chapter number: 12

Chapter name: Suma (須磨, Suma)

Scene: Kaidômaru (會童丸) up a tree with the monkeys watched by his mother, Yama-uba (山姥), below

Robinson: S88.12

 

I am grateful to Ward Pieters for locating this image.

 

Kuniyoshi - Japanese & Chinese Comparisons for the Chapters of Genji (S88

   

Chapter number: 13

Chapter name: Akashi (明石, Akashi)

Scene: Baba Mino no Kami (馬場美濃守) killing an enemy with his sword, while storming forward on his horse

Robinson: S88.13

Kuniyoshi - Japanese & Chinese Comparisons for the Chapters of Genji (S88

   

Chapter number: 15

Chapter name: Yomogyû (蓬生, Wormwood Patch)

Scene: Momotarô (桃太郎, Little Peachling), a monkey, a badger a pheasant and captive demon with “the five precious things” on stand behind them

Robinson: S88.15

Kuniyoshi - Japanese & Chinese Comparisons for the Chapters of Genji (S88

 

Chapter number: 16

Chapter name: Sekiya (関屋, The Gatehouse)

Scene: Guan Yu (関羽五関破) on horseback destroying “The 5 Barriers” loping off heads with a pole arm left and right

Robinson: S88.16

Kuniyoshi - Japanese & Chinese Comparisons for the Chapters of Genji (S88

   

Chapter number: 17

Chapter name: E-awase (絵合, Picture Contest)

Scene: Iga Jutarô (伊賀寿 太郎), on foot, seizes a mounted foe by the belt

Robinson: S88.17

  

Chapter number: 19

Chapter name: Usugumo (薄雲, Wisps of Cloud)

Scene: Raikô (源頼光), who is ill, drawing his sword as the Earth-Spider envelops him in its web

Robinson: S88.19

Kuniyoshi - Japanese & Chinese Comparisons for the Chapters of Genji (S88

 

Chapter number: 21

Chapter name: Otome (乙女, The Maiden)     

Scene: Prince Hansoku (帆足王) of India and Lady Kayo flying away as she reveals her true identity as a nine-tailed fox

Robinson: S88.21

Kuniyoshi - Japanese & Chinese Comparisons for the Chapters of Genji (S88

  

Chapter number: 22

Chapter name: Tamakazura (玉っつら, Jewel Garland)

Scene: Takeshiuchi no Sukune (武内宿称) looking over the side of his ship and being offered two magic jewels (senju and manju) by the Dragon King

Robinson: S88.22

Kuniyoshi - Japanese & Chinese Comparisons for the Chapters of Genji (S88

 

Chapter number: 23

Chapter name: Hatsune (初音, First Warbler)

Scene: Keyamura Rokusuke (毛谷村 六介) wrestling before an audience of noblemen

Robinson: S88.23

Kuniyoshi - Japanese & Chinese Comparisons for the Chapters of Genji (S88

  

Chapter number: 25

Chapter name: Hotaru (, Fireflies)

Scene: Shinozuka Iga no Kami (篠塚 伊賀守) single-handedly hoisting a ship’s sail to the amazement of members of the crew

Robinson: S88.25

Kuniyoshi - Japanese & Chinese Comparisons for the Chapters of Genji (S88

 

Chapter number: 27

Chapter name: Kagaribi (篝火, Flares)

Scene: Yamatotakeru-no-mikoto (日本武 ) using his “grass-mowing sword” to foil an attempt to trap him in burning grass

Robinson: S88.27

Kuniyoshi - Japanese & Chinese Comparisons for the Chapters of Genji (S88

 

Chapter number: 28

Chapter name: Nowaki (野わき, Typhoon)

Scene: Kidômaru (鬼童丸) seated on a water buffalo draws his sword as Raikô and his followers approach over the Ichihara Moor

Robinson: S88.28

Kuniyoshi - Japanese & Chinese Comparisons for the Chapters of Genji (S88

 

Another state of the above design

 

This print by Johan Nieuhof (1618-1672) may have influenced the preceding print by Kuniyoshi.  Kuniyoshi is known to have had access to a book of Johan Nieuhof’s engravings.

 

Chapter number: 29

Chapter name: Miyuki (御幸, Royal Outing)

Scene: Hyôshitô Rinchû (豹子頭林沖) 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

Kuniyoshi - Japanese & Chinese Comparisons for the Chapters of Genji (S88

   

Chapter number: 30

Chapter name: Fujibakama (藤袴, Purple Trousers)

Scene: Watônai (和藤内), who is also known as Katô Kiyomasa, on the Korean shore with two retainers

Robinson: S88.30

Kuniyoshi - Japanese & Chinese Comparisons for the Chapters of Genji (S88

 

Chapter number: 31

Chapter name:  Maki-bashira (まき柱, Cypress Pillar)

Scene: Sagi-no-ike Heikurô (鷺池平九郎) wrestling with a giant python in the mountains

Robinson: S88.31

 

This print by Johan Nieuhof (1618-1672) may have influenced the preceding print by Kuniyoshi.  Kuniyoshi is known to have had access to a book of Johan Nieuhof’s engravings.

Kuniyoshi - Japanese & Chinese Comparisons for the Chapters of Genji (S88

 

Chapter number: 33

Chapter name: Fuji no uraba (梅枝, Wisteria Leaves)

Scene: Takeda Shingen of Kai (甲斐の信玄) armed and seated at the foot of Mount Asama

Robinson: S88.33

 

 

Kuniyoshi - Japanese & Chinese Comparisons for the Chapters of Genji (S88

  

Chapter number: 34

Chapter name: Wakana no (若菜上, New Herbs, Part I)

Scene: Abe no Sadatô (安倍 貞任) being pursued by Hachiman-tarô Yoshi-ie (八幡太郎義家), both on horseback

Robinson: S88.34

 

Chapter number: 37

Chapter name: Yokobue (よこ笛, The Flute)

Scene: Ushiwakamaru (牛若丸) playing his flute on Gojô Bridge with Benkei lurking in the background

Robinson: S88.37

Kuniyoshi - Japanese & Chinese Comparisons for the Chapters of Genji (S88

   

Chapter number: 38

Chapter name: Suzumushi (鈴虫, Bell Cricket)

Scene: The great wrestler Kyumonryô Shishin (九紋龍 史進) 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

Kuniyoshi - Japanese & Chinese Comparisons for the Chapters of Genji (S88

 

Chapter number: 40

Chapter name: Minori (みの里, The Rights)

Scene: Suzuki Saemon Shigeyuki (すづ小左衛門重行) lying in ambush and aiming his pistol at Nobunaga 

Robinson: S88.40

   

Chapter number: 42

Chapter name: Niônomiya (匂宮, His Perfumed Highness)

Scene: Mega Magosaburô (妻鹿 孫三郎) at the Battle of Miidera defending the gateway amid a hail of arrows

Robinson: S88.42

Kuniyoshi - Japanese & Chinese Comparisons for the Chapters of Genji (S88

 

Chapter number: 48

Chapter name: Sawarabi (早蕨, Early Ferns)

Scene: Gyôja Bushô (行者武松). A hero of the semi-historical Chinese novel, Suikoden, overcoming a tiger with his bare hands

Robinson: S88.48

Kuniyoshi - Japanese & Chinese Comparisons for the Chapters of Genji (S88

  

Chapter number: 51

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

Scene: Nogi Nyûdô Raigen (野木入道来玄) using a wooden shield (tate) as a raft and paddling with a naginata amid a flight of arrows

Robinson: S88.51

Kuniyoshi - Japanese & Chinese Comparisons for the Chapters of Genji (S88

   

Chapter number: 52

Chapter name: Kagerô (蜻蛉, Boat on the Water)

Scene: Akushichibyôe Kagekiyo (惡七兵衛景清) struggling with several men who are trying to arrest him in front of a broken wooden grating

Robinson: S88.52

 

Cover sheet for this series

 

“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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