About This Print
This print is one of fifty prints from the first part of the three part series One Hundred Victories, One Hundred Laughs. (Hyakusen hyakushô) created by the artist Kobayashi Kiyochika (1847-1915), the writer Nishimori Takeki (1861-1923), alias Koppi Dōjin, and the publisher Matsuki Heikichi (1870-1931).
In March 1895 when this print was published, negotiations were underway for a cease fire and in a month the Treaty of Shimonoseki ending the war would be signed. The "moaning monologue" being delivered by a "bad actor" relates to the defeat of Li Hongzhang, the Chinese forces Supreme Commander. The Westerner opening the curtain relates to the intervention of the Western countries who wanted an end to the fighting and to promote their own interests on the Liaodong Peninsula.
About The Series One Hundred Victories, One Hundred Laughs
This series One Hundred Victories, One Hundred Laughs was issued in three parts and presented parodies of the enemy, the Chinese in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 and ten years later the Russians in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. The first part of the series titled Long Live Japan: One Hundred Victories, One Hundred Laughs, consisting of fifty prints, was issued between September 1894 and August 1895. The second part of the series titled Magic Lantern Society: One Hundred Victories, One Hundred Laughs, consisting of twelve prints, was issued between November 1895 and December 1896. Both of these parts parodied (often in a racist manner) the Chinese people, leadership and war effort. The third and last part of the series, consisting of eight-six prints, used the same title as the first part Long Live Japan: One Hundred Victories, One Hundred Laughs. Issued between April 1904 and April 1905, the prints parodied the Russian war effort. For more information about the series see the article One Hundred Victories, One Hundred Laughs on this site.
Inscription - Japanese
東西（とうさい）トザイ東（とう） ー 西（ざい）ー / 口上「一座（ざ）高（たこ）うハ御座（ござ）りま/すれど、不面目（ふめんほく）なる降状（こうぢやう）な以（もつ）て申（まを）しアーゲ奉（たてまつ）/ります。随（したが）ひまして此許（このもと）御笑覧（ごせうらん）ニ入（い）れまする/ 清狂言名題（しんきやうげんなだい）「トザイ東（とう）ー 西（ざい）ー 口上「大敗北恥（まけいくさはぢ）/辱上塗（のうわぬり）ー 負（ま）け軍（いくさ）恥（はじ）の上塗（うわぬり）に御座（ござ）り升（ます）、/ 分（わけ）て申上（まをしあげ）まするハ、相勤（あいつと）めまする役人（やくにん）の儀（ぎ）、/ 大法螺（おほぼら）を吹（ふ）き虚言（うそ）をつく事（こと）だけハ熟練（じゆくれん）に/ 御座りますれど、其他（そのほか）の事（こと）ハ何（なに）一つとして取得（とりえ）の/ 芸（げい）ハ御座（ござ）りませぬ加之（しかのみ）ならず御當国（ごたうこく）へハ/ 初（はじ）めてのお目見（めみ）えと云（い）ひ、殊（こと）にハ目先（めさき）の見（ミ）へ/ぬ盲目（めくら）も同然（どうぜん）に御座（ござ）りまして為（す）る事（こと）偽（な）/す事（こと）すべてトンチンカン、迚（とて）も猿芝居（さるしばい）の御上（ごじやう）/使（し）ほどの業（わざ）も出来（でき）ませぬけれども、只々（ただただ）面（つら）の/皮（かハ）厚（あつ）く幾度（いくたび）恥（はじ）を掻（か）きましても、呑湖（のんこ）の洒蛙（しやあ）/突（つく）で出直（でなほ）す處（ところ）だけが御景物（おけいぶつ）に御座り升れバ、/ 遣（や）り損（そこな）ひの節（せつ）ハ幾重（いくゑ）にも御容赦（ごようしや）なく、ヤー /イ、ちやんちやん坊主（ばうず）め態（ざま）ァ見（ミ）ろと御笑（おんわら）ひ下（くだ）さるる/ やう偏（ひとへ）に願（ねが）ひァーゲ奉り（たてまつり）ます、その為（た）め降状（こうぢやう）/ サヨー 見物人「イヨ鴻章（こうしやう）ごくどう
inscription Shin kyōgen no kōjō Koppi Dōjin
Tōzai tozai tōzaī. Kōjō „Ichiza takō wa gozarima/suredo, fumenboku naru kōjō na motte mōshiāge tatematsuri/masu. Shitagaimashite kono moto go-shōran ni iremasuru/ Shin kyōgen nadai “Tozai tōzaī.” Kōjō “Make-ikusa haji/ no uwanurī, Make-ikusa haji no uwanuri ni gozarimasu./ Wakete mōshiagemasuru wa, aitsutomemasuru yakunin no gi,/ ōbora o fuki uso o tsuku koto dake wa jukuren ni/ gozarimasuredo, sono hoka no koto wa nani hitotsu to shite torie no/ gei wa gozarimasenu, shikanominarazu go-tōkoku e wa/ hajimete no omemie to ii, koto ni wa mesaki no mie/nu mekura mo dōzen ni gozarimashite, suru koto na/su koto subete tonchinkan, totemo sarushibai no go-jō/shi hodo no waza mo dekimasenu keredo mo, tada tada tsura no/ kawa atsuku ikutabi haji o kakimashite mo, nonko no shā/tsuku de denaosu tokoro dake ga o-keibutsu ni gazarimasureba,/ yarisokonai no setsu wa ikue in mo go-yōsha naku, yā/i, Chanchan-bōzu me zamā miro to on-warai kudasaruru/ yō hitoe ni negaiage tatematsurimasu. Sono tame no kōjō/ sayō Kenbutsunin “Iyo Kōshō gokudō.”
Print Details
| IHL Catalog | #331 |
| Title or Description | A Moaning Monologue in the Chinese Kyōgen Shin kyōgen no kōjō 清狂言の降状 |
| Series | Long Live Japan: One Hundred Victories, One Hundred Laughs [also translated as Long Live Japan! One Hundred Selections, One Hundred Laughs] Nihon banzai: Hyakusen hyakushō 日本萬歳 百撰百笑 [日本万歳 百撰百笑] |
| Artist | Kobayashi Kiyochika (1847-1915) |
| Signature | Kiyochika |
| Seal | Kobayashi |
| Publication Date | March 1895 (Meiji 28) |
| Publisher | Matsuki Heikichi (松木平吉) proprietor of Daikokuya |
| Impression | excellent |
| Colors | excellent |
| Condition | fair - multiple worm holes (some repaired); right margin trimmed about 1/4" |
| Genre | ukiyo-e; senso-e (Sino-Japanese War); giga; fūshiga |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Format | vertical oban |
| H x W Paper | 13 7/8 x 9 1/4 in. (35.2 x 23.5 cm) |
| H x W Image | 13 7/8 x 9 in. (35.2 x 22.9 cm) |
| Literature | |
| Collections This Print | |
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