The One and Only Eight Dog History of Old Kyokutei,

Best of Refined Authors

(Kyokutei-ô seicho Hakkenshi zui-ichi, 曲亭翁精著八犬士随一)

Publisher: Nishimura-ya Yohachi

c. 1835

This series of prints is based upon the novel Nansô Satomi Hakkenden (The Biography of Nansô Satomi and the Eight Dog Warriors) written by Takizawa Bakin (1767-1848), who is here called Old Kyokutei. By a rather complicated set of circumstances, Fusehime, the daughter of Lord Anzai of the Satomi Clan, gives birth to eight great warriors fathered by a dog. The majority of the novel’s 181 chapters relate their swashbuckling adventures. Each panel in this series is about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban.

Description: Kempachi Nobumichi on the Hôryûkaku roof Robinson: S5.2

Description: Inuzuka Shino Moritaka on the Hôryûkaku roof Robinson: S5.1

One sheet from another state of the above diptych

Description: Inue Shimbei Masashi on the shoulders of his protector attacked by a gang of roughs Robinson: S5.4

Description: Inuda Kobungo Yasuyori (犬田小文吾悌須) attacked by a gang of ruffians Robinson: S5.3

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this keyblock print.

Description: Inuyama Dôsetsu Tadatomo (犬山道節忠知) chopping at stone tank Robinson: S5.6

Description: Inukawa Sôsuke Yoshitô (犬川荘介義任) cuts off the corner of a stone tank, revealing a shining jewel Robinson: S5.5

Description: Inumura Daikaku driving his dirk into the monstrous cat-witch Robinson: S5.8

Description: Inuzaka Keno Tanetomo struggling with four assailants Robinson: S5.7

I am grateful to Thomas Voit for this sheet from an alternate state of the above diptych.

“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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