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).
The Japanese dragonfly stands over the Chinese pig, while the three bees representing Russia, England and France buzz around China's head. By the time this print was released in December 1894, Japan was in control of the Port Arthur and the Liaodong Peninsula. A few years after the war ended, Russia, England and France all obtained leases from a weak China of various strategic ports.
Depiction of Japan as a Dragonfly
Japan was not always named Japan. Japanese legend has it that an Emperor was bitten by a horsefly which, in turn, was eaten by a dragonfly. The Emperor honored the dragonfly by naming what is now Japan “Akitsushima” which, during that time, translated to “Isle of the Dragonfly”.
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.
Print's Inscription - Japanese and English
Source: University of Vienna website http://ukiyoe.univie.ac.at/detail.asp?docid=1059&lang=j&first=1豚（ぶた）の當惑（とうわく） 骨皮道人
蜻蛉「サアどうだ、此処（ここ）まで追詰（おいつめ）れバ如何（いか）に蛆虫（うじむし）/ 同様（どうやう）の豚痴奇（とんちき）でも、少（すこ）しハ痛（いた）いとか痒（かゆ）いとか感（かん）じ/たらう。夫（それ）とも未（ま）だ傲慢（ごうまん）な面附（つらつき）で居（い）るか知（し）らない/ が、もう斯（かう）なれバ煮（に）て喰（く）はうと焼（やい）て喰（く）はうと/ 此方（こつち）の勝手（かつて）だ」 豚「夫（それ）やァもう元（もと）を乱（ただ）せバ私（わたく）しが、/ 彼（あ）の鶏（にわとり）を一嘗（ひとなめ）にして腹（はら）を肥（こや）さうとしたのが、万/万（ばんばん）悪（わる）う御座（ござ）いました。夫（それ）のミならず世界（せかい）に羽（はね）を/ 伸（のば）して入（ゐ）らッしやる貴方様（あなたさま）を弱虫（よわむし）と見損（ミそこな）つて/ 手向（てむか）ひを致（いた）した処（ところ）も、私（わたく）しが重々（せうせう）悪（わる）う御座（ござ）い/ました。定（さだ）めしお腹（はら）も立（たち）ませうが何様（どん）なお詫書（わびしよ）/ でも差出（さしだし）ますから、此度（このたび）の所（ところ）は幾重（いくえ）にも御（ご）/勘弁（かんべん）下（くだ）さいまして、どうぞ命丈（いのちだけ）ハお助（たす）けを願/ひます。是（こ）れ此（この）通（とふ）り豚首（とんしゆ）再這（さいはい）尻尾（しつぽ）を下（さげ）て/ お詫（わび）を致（いた）します」 佛の蜂「夫（それ）やァ宣（いい）が自己（おれ）の方（はう）ハ/ 何（どう）する積もりだ」 露の蜂「自己（おれ）の方（はう）も何（どう）するの/だ 」英の蜂「自己（おれ）の方（はう）も何（どう）するのだ、早（はや）く片（かた）を附（つけ）な/いと此剣（このけん）を以（もつ）て刺殺（さしころ）すぞ」 豚「この泣（なき）ッ面（つら）の所（ところ）へ/ 又候（またぞろ）さう四方八方（しはうはつぱう）から攻立（せめたて）られた日（ひ）にハ露（ろ）うして/英（えい）やら佛々（ふつふつ）困（こま）り果（はて）ました」
Source: University of Vienna website http://kenkyuu.jpn.univie.ac.at/karikaturen/detail.asp?docid=1059&lang=e&first=1
Buta no tōwaku Koppi Dōjin
Tonbo “Sā dō da, koko made oitsumereba ikani ujimushi / dōyō no Tonchiki demo, sukoshi wa itai to ka kayui to ka kanji/tarō. Sore tomo mada gōman na tsuratsuki de iru ka shiranai/ ga, mō kō nareba nite kuō to yaite kuō to/ kotchi no katte da.” Buta “Soryā mō moto o tadaseba watashi ga,/ kano niwatori o hitoname ni shite hara o koyasō to shita no ga, ban/ban warū gozaimashita. Sore nomi narazu sekai ni hane o/ nobashite irassharu anata-sama o yowamushi to misokonatte/ temukai o itashita tokoro mo, watashi ga jūjū warū gozai/mashita. Sadameshi o-hara mo tachimashō ga donna o-wabisho/ demo sashidashimasu kara, kono tabi no tokoro wa ikue ni mo go-kanben kudasaimashite, dōzo inochi dake wa o-tasuke o nega/imasu. Kore kono tōri tonshu saihai shippo o sagete/ o-wabi o itashimasu.” Futsu no hachi “Soryā ii ga ore no hō wa/ dō suru tsumori da.” Ro no hachi “Ore no hō mo dō suru no/ da.” Ei no hachi "Ore no hō mo dō suru no da. Hayaku kata o tsukena/i to kono ken o motte sashikorosu zo.” Buta “Kono nakittsura no tokoro e/ matazoro sō shihō happō kara semetaterareta hi ni wa rō shite/ ei yara futsufutsu komarihatemashita.”
Source: University of Vienna website http://ukiyoe.univie.ac.at/detail.asp?docid=941&lang=e&first=1
The clueless pig / The pig's dilemma [by] Koppi Dōjin
Dragonfly: “So, how is it? If you've been cornered like this, isn't it a rather unpleasant feeling, even though you are daft as a maggot? However, I don't know if you still have a pretentious look on your face or not, but if that's the way it's going to be then it will be our victory – no matter if we want to cook and eat or roast and eat you.
” Pig: “Well, in this case, when I get to the bottom of things, I swallowed those chickens in one whole bite and tried to get rich. I was terrible! But not only that, I was extremely terrible when I regarded you people spreading your wings out into the world as weak insects (and held you in low esteem) and defied you. I'm sure you must be angry. We ask you kindly to forgive us this time and at least spare our lives, since we just deal out every letter of apology. We hereby apologize sincerely and bow down to you.”
French bee: “That's fine, but how do you want to deal with us?”
Russian bee: “What are you going to do with me?”
English Bee: “What are you going to do with me? If you don't get things straightened out quickly I will cast you down with this sword (because of this issue).”
Pig: “Crying in desperation, being cornered from all sides and attacked, I have no idea what to do and have really gotten into trouble.”
Print Details
| IHL Catalog | #227 |
| Title or Description | The Pig's Dismay [also translated as The Clueless Pig or Meandering Pigs] Buta no tōwaku 豚の当惑 |
| 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 | Kiyochika Kobayashi (1847-1915) |
| Signature | Kiyochika |
| Seal | Kiyo |
| Publication Date | December 1894 (Meiji 27) |
| Publisher | Matsuki Heikichi (松木平吉) proprietor of Daikokuya |
| Impression | excellent |
| Colors | good |
| Condition | fair - left and top margin trimmed to image; backed; light soiling throughout, red ink offsetting; vertical fold |
| Genre | ukiyo-e, senso-e (Sino-Japanese War), giga; fūshiga |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Format | vertical oban |
| H x W Paper | 13 7/8 x 9 1/8 in. (35.2 x 23.2 cm) |
| H x W Image | 13 7/8 x 9 1/8 in. (35.2 x 23.2 cm) |
| Literature | |
| Collections This Print | Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art S2003.8.1293; Hagi Uragami Museum (Yamaguchi, Japan) U01255; The Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum of Waseda University 201-180; Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division FP2-JPD no. 889; Östasiatiska musee OM-2010-0004; British Library shelfmark: 16126.d2(28); Princeton University Art Museum |
4/17/2020
3/9/2020
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