Kudo Suketsune in disguise - Sogamono

Category

Library Item

Item no

323

Title

Kudo Suketsune disguised as a Buddhist priest

Description

Portrait of Bando Shuka I as Kudo Suketsune in a play based on the popular story of 'The Revenge of the Soga Brothers'. 'Sogamono', plays deriving from this particular tale of vengeance and honour, were used to open the Kabuki season at the beginning of each New Year. Kudo Suketsune is the villain in the story and in this print he is shown wearing the disguise of a Buddhist priest. In one hand he holds a priest's headdress and in the other the courtier's fan. The Kabuki actor's costume was specially designed so that it could be removed quickly on stage when rapid costume changes were needed. One of the actor's sleeves has been loosened to reveal an underkimono decorated with Kudo Suketsune's crest. The print was originally part of a triptych (a complete impression is held by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; 2009.4992.16a-c).
[Information supplied by T. Clark].

Artist / maker

Kuniyoshi

Date

1850

Size

38 x 26.2 cm.

Type

Wood cut

Location

Art and Design Library

The following information appears on the print:

Signature: Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga
Censor's Seals: Hama and Magome (1849 - 1853)

The story of 'The Revenge of the Soga Brothers' was based on a real event that took place in 1193, when Lord Ito's son Kawazu Saburo Sukeyasu was murdered by his cousin and rival Kudo Suketsune. Kawazu Sukeyasu left behind two sons, and a widow who remarried and took the name of Soga. The sons, Juro Sukenari and Goro Tokimune, from a young age plot to avenge their father's death. When the older son, Juro, recieves news that Kudo Sukestune is taking part in a hunt on the slopes of Mount Fuji, Juro rushes to his brother's side and they decide to seize this opportunity. They go to the hunting camp, find Suketsune in his tent and kill him. In the fight that ensues, Juro is killed by Suketsune's retainers and Goro is captured and later sentenced to death by Shogun Yoritomo.
In Kabuki version of the tale, Shogun Yoritomo reinstalls Kawazu Sukeyasu's widow as the legitimate owner of the family's estate, thus restoring the family's honour.
This story provided the material for numerous vendetta plays that centred on the characters of the Soga brothers.

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.

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