Scene from ''The Subscription List' ('Kanjincho')

Category

Library Item

Item no

314

Title

Scene from ''The Subscription List' ('Kanjincho')

Description

The celebration scene from the Kabuki play 'Kanjincho'. The characters are Togashi Saemon (right, Barrier Guardian), Benkei (centre, disguised as a yamabushi or mountain priest) and Minamoto Yoshitsune (left, disguised as a porter). Benkei has successfully liberated his master, Minamoto Yoshitsune and sits down to drink sake with Togashi. Benkei beckons the soldiers, wearing cobweb patterned kimono, to bring the lacquer tub lid filled with sake. When drunk he performs a dance.

Artist / maker

Kuniyoshi

Date

1849

Size

24.6 x 36.6 cm.

Type

Wood cut

Location

Art and Design Library

The following information appears on the print:

Signature: Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga
Censor's Seals: Yoshimura and Kinugasa (1849)

'The Subscription List' is a dance drama (gidayu) inspired by the historical story of Minamoto Yoshitsune's journey northwards in flight from his jealous older brother Yoritomo. The Kabuki play was adapted from the Noh play 'Ataka' created by Namiki Gohei III. Ichikawa Ebizo V (Danjuro VII) first performed in the Kabuki version of the story in 1840 and 'The Subscription List' became part of the repertoire of favourite eighteen plays (juhachiban) that were selected and performed by the Danjuro line of actors.
The pine tree in the background shows that this was first a Noh play that has been adapted for Kabuki. This pine is a 'yogo no matsu' or epiphany pine and is associated with Noh theatre.

This is one of a set of 50 prints donated to Edinburgh City Libraries by Marie Ferguson Dyer in honour of her father Henry Dyer. Dyer was a Scottish engineer who became the first Principal of the Imperial College of Engineering in Tokyo in 1872.

Exhibitions with this item

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Related images

Related subjects

Clothing and dress > Garments > Kimonos

Places > Asia > Japan

Sport and leisure > Activities > Kabuki theatre

Sport and leisure > Culture > Stage

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