Background
Yoshitsune senbon zakura (Yoshitsune and the thousand cherry trees: 義経千本桜) was written for the puppet theater by Takeda Izumo II, Miyoshi Shoraku, and Namiki Senryû. It was first performed at the Takemoto no Shibai, Osaka in 1747. The play involves various episodes from a historical tale highlighting the military conflicts between Heike and Genji (Taira vs. Minamoto) clans. The real Tadanobu is an ally of Lady Shizuka Gozen (静御前 1165-1211), the concubine of the celebrated warrior Minamoto no Yoshitsune (源義経 1159-1189) who is in flight from his half brother Minamoto no Yoritomo (源頼朝 1147-1199), Japan's military leader. In the dramatization, Yoshitsune is forced to leave Shizuka, whereupon he gives her a hand drum as a keepsake. When she is attacked by a retainer of Yoritomo's, the fox-Tadanobu (kitsune Tadanobu, 狐忠信) saves her. Yoshitsune observes this from a distance and gives the fox-impostor a suit of armor, thinking that he is entrusting Shizuka Gozen's safety to the real Tadanobu (the retainer Satô Shirô Tadanobu, (佐藤四郎忠信)). But when she plays the drum, Tadanobu undergoes a metamorphosis and begins to dance, his movements animal-like, for the drum is made from the skin of one of his parents. Finally, all is revealed, and Yoshitsune gives Tadanobu the hand drum in appreciation of his loyalty. In one last act of fealty, before returning to the animal world, the fox drives off six armed priests sent to assassinate Yoshitsune.
*** Given the style of figure drawing, the signature might be an alternate name for Gigadô Ashiyuki. Regardless, Hôshû (or the signature) is known by a only few ôban designs circa 1823-1826 in Osaka. If the artist was not the same as Ashiyuki, he was possibly a student of Shunkôsai Hokushû.
Design
Hôshû portrays the moment when Shizuka Gozen plays the hand drum (ko-tsuzumi, 小鼓), bringing about Tadanobu's metamorphose into his real fox self.
This is a rare design. At present, we know of only one other impression in the Waseda University collection (Tsubouchi Memorial Theater Museum).
The long inscription reads: 画中せりふ「実このよろひを玉はりしも兄次のふが忠きんなり 八島のたゝかひわがきみの御馬の矢おもてにこまをかけすへ たちふさがる ヲヽきゝおよぶ其時に平家の方ニは名たかきつよゆみ 能登守のりつねと名のりもあへずよつひいて放つ矢先はうらめしや兄つぎのぶがむないたにたまりもあへずまつさかさまあへなきさいごは武士の忠臣義士の名をのこすおもひいづるもなみだにて袖はかわかぬつゝ井づゝ」とあり。
A possible rough translation, which does not involve the Tadanobu episode, might be: "In this battle, my older brother's loyalty was truly admirable. He stood firm, placing himself in front of my horse, even as the enemy's arrows rained down upon us. At that moment, on the side of the Heike, there was a famous warrior named Noto-no-Kami Noritsune*, who did not even flinch as he let loose his arrows. But my brother, who was not as well-known, did not back down, and in the end, he gave his life for his loyalty and honor as a samurai. I remember this scene with tears in my eyes, and my sleeves remain soaked with them to this day."
* The historical account is sometimes given as follows: The Taira (Heike) commanding warrior Noto-no-Kami Noritsune (Taira no Noritsune, 平教経 1160–1185), facing off against the Minamoto, avoids the arrows of Minamoto Yoshitsune and then attempts to capture Yoshitsune, only to see the Minamoto warrior make a legendary leap to another boat (the so-called hassô-tobi or "leap over eight boats," 八艘跳び) and then mock Noritsune from a safe distance. Tokii Akitarô (whose strength was the equal of thirty men), an ally of Yoshitsune, with two retainers, attacked Noritsune, who tossed one retainer into the sea and took down Tokii and the other retainer by grabbing them and taking them all to their deaths in the sea. Meanwhile, most of the Taira fleet escaped to Dan-no-ura, where they were defeated one month later in the Battle of Dan-no-ura (壇ノ浦の戦い).
References:
- WAS-IV, no. 339
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