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Archive: Ashiyuki (芦幸)

Description:
Arashi Rikan II as Miyamoto Musashi in Katakiuchi nitô no eiyûki, Chikugo Theater, Osaka
Signature:
Gigadô Ashiyuki ga
Seals:
Carver: saiku Yama Kasuke 細工山嘉助
Publisher:
Honsei (Honya Seishichi: 本や清七) and Kawaji (河治)
Date:
1/1832
Format:
(H x W)
Ôban nishiki-e
35.4 x 25.9 cm
Impression:
Excellent, deluxe edition with metallics and blind embossing and traces of gauffrage snow on thick paper
Condition:
Excellent color, very good condition, unbacked; two tiny filled worm trails near right edge, faint spot on Rikan's white cape near his left elbow and horizontal line from flattened crease near left ankle
Price (USD/¥):
Comments:
Background

The play Katakiuchi nitô no eiyûki (A tale of revenge and great courage on two islands: 復讐二島英勇記) was based on the historical Miyamoto Musashi (c. 1584-1645; 宮本 武蔵), whose name meant "Storehouse of military knowledge." Also an author, Musashi wrote Gorin no sho (The Book of Five Rings: 五輪書), a treatise on military tactics, strategy, and philosophy. He was a legendary swordsman and the son of the celebrated fencing master Yoshioka Tarozaemon, a retainer of the Ashikaga shôgun Yoshiteru. Musashi was a bold and reputedly reckless adventurer, although he survived armed combat more than 60 times and died a natural death. Katakiuchi nitô no eiyûki was one of many popular tales of vengeance and retribution, an example of the theatrical genre of "revenge plays" called katakiuchi mono (敵討物) or adauchi mono (仇打ち物). In one such incident, Musashi avenged the murder of his father by despatching his killer with a wooden sword, a lethal weapon in the hands of a master swordsman. Musashi's exploits took him into the mountains during winter, when he is often depicted, as in Ashiyuki's design, carrying or wearing a straw hat and padded jacket.

Design

The Kabuki nenpyô (see KNP reference below) mentions that in one scene, Rikan exited the main stage by walking down the hanamichi, and when half-way down he gestured as if descending into a valley. That is the same scene shown here in Ashiyuki's design. This is also the moment shortly before Musashi encounters Kasahara Rôô (the legendary fencing master Kasawara Bokuden), from whom he will learn advanced fighting techniques.

The poems are signed by Rikkaen and Rikan, respectively, reading:
Na no hana ni / hikkurumetaru / sekai kana (The whole world is covered / by the yellow flowers / of the rapeseed).
Yuku michi o / saguri ashi nari / oborotsuki (Walking along the path, / I feel my way with my feet, / night of the veiled moon).

This is one of the most admired works by Ashiyuki and is much sought after by collectors. This impression has the hand-stamped seals of two publishers, Honsei (Honya Seishichi: 本屋清七) and Kawaji — a joint production that appears to have preceded a slightly later edition from Iden (Izutsuya Denbei 井筒屋傳兵衞 — see ASY15 and ASY26). Moreover, the hand-stamped seal of the distinguished block carver Yama Kasuke in the lower left corner adds further cachet to this design, signaling an early impression.

References: IKBYS-I, no. 301; KNP-6, p. 251; IKB-I, no. 3-61; SCH, no. 146; PPO, no. 69; OSP, p. 154, no. 146