Untitled series of Chûshingura diptychs

Publisher: Enshû-ya Hikobei

1849

 

This series of diptychs illustrates a performance of the kabuki play Kanadehon Chûshingura at the Nakamura-za Theater in the 7th month of 1849.  The actors were:

Actor

Role

Iwai Kumesaburô III

Lady Kaoyo

Iwai Kumesaburô III

Ôboshi Rikiya

Sawamura Chôjûrô V

Ôbosh Yuranosuke

Sawamura Chôjûrô V

Momonoi Wakanosuke

Sawamura Chôjûrô V

Hayano Kanpei

Onoe Baikô IV

Okaru

Bandô Mitsugorô IV

Takano Moronaô

Onoe Shinshichi III

Enya Hangan

Ichikawa Kuzô II

Kakogawa Honzô

Ichikawa Kuzô II

Ono Sadakurô

Nakamura Tsuruzô

Sagisaka Bannai

Arashi Kangorô I

Owashi Bungo

The series is not listed in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961).  The two individual sheets of each diptych are each about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban.

 

Act: 1

Description: Ko no Moronaô, the Imperial envoy Momonoi Waka-no-suke & Lady Kaoyo-gozen at the Hachiman Shrine

Actors: Bandô Mitsugorô IV as Ko no Moronaô (R), Sawamura Sôjûrô V as Momonoi Waka-no-suke and Iwai Kumesaburô III as Kaoyo-gozen

Act: 4

Description: Ôboshi Yuranosuke outside the castle by night, holding the dirk with which his lord had performed seppuku

Actors: Iwai Kumesaburô III as Ôboshi Rikiya (right) and Sawamura Chôjûrô V as Ôboshi Yuranosuke (left)

Act: 6

Description: Hayano Kanpei shooting Ono Sadakurô

Actors: Ichikawa Kuzô II as Ono Sadakurô (right) and Sawamura Chôjûrô V as Hayano Kanpei (left)

Act:

Description:

Actors: Sawamura Chôjûrô V as Hayano Kanpei (right) and Onoe Baikô IV as Okaru (left)

Act:

Description:

Actors: Ichikawa Kuzô II as Kakogawa Honzô (加古川本蔵, left) and Sawamura Chôjûrô V as Momoi Wakasa Nosuke (桃井若狭之助, right)

 

I am grateful to Lucienne Parkan for this image.

This diptych is from a different play, but resembles the above series

Actors: Left sheet: Nakamura Utaemon IV as an artisan () and Ichimura Uzaemon XII as a merchant ()

Right sheet: Seki Sanjûrô III as a farmer () and Bandô Shûka I as a servant ()

Play: Yomito uta Tosa-e no Irodori (四民歌土佐画彩)

Date: 4th month of 1849

Theater: Ichimura

Publisher: Ningyô-ya Takichi

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