The Series Magic in the Twelve Signs of the Zodiac

This series of twelve prints depicts actors in roles associated with the twelve animal signs of the Zodiac.  The Japanese Zodiac and calendar were introduced from China into Japan in the sixth century.  Legend has it that the animals of the Zodiac (子 Rat, 丑 Ox, 寅 Tiger, 卯 Hare, 辰 Dragon, 巳 Snake, 午 Horse, 未 Goat, 申 Monkey, 酉 Rooster, 戌 Dog and 亥 Boar) were named by the Buddha as he lay dying.  

The Lavenberg Collection contains five prints from the series: Sawamura Tosshō II as Tora Ōmaru; Ichikawa Sadanji as the monk Raigo Ajari; Bandō Hikosaburō as Unryū Kūrō; Onoe Kikugorō V as Mibu no Kozaru and Bandō Hikosaburō as Inugami Hyōbu. To see all twelve prints from the series go to Sawamura Tosshō II as Tora Ōmaru.   

While some sources attribute the images in the series to particular plays, my guess is that the scenes depicted are from the imagination of Kunichika, rather than from actual plays.  

Print Details

IHL Catalog	#649
Title (Description)	Onoe Kikugorō V as Mibu no Kozaru 尾上菊五郎 三生の小猿
Series	Magic in the Twelve Signs of the Zodiac - Monkey  奇術十二支之内 申 kijutsu jūnishi no uchi - saru (as shown in main cartouche)
Artist	Toyohara Kunichika (1835–1900)
Signature	豊原国周 筆 Toyohara Kunichika hitsu with toshidama seal
Seal (of the artist)	toshidama seal
Publication Date	date seal 明治十年二月一日 (February 1, 1877)
Publisher	right rectangle: 植木 林之助 Ueki Rinnosuke (Ebiya Rinnosuke) and address [Marks: seal not shown; pub. ref. 040] left rectangle: 荒川八十八画 Arakawa Yasohachi (Kunichika's mother's surname and the artist's given name followed by the artist's address)
Carver	Hori Yata 木りヤタ
Impression	excellent
Colors	good
Condition	fair - some offsetting; trimming; paper wrinkling
Genre	ukiyo-e; yakusha-e; mitate
Miscellaneous
Format	vertical oban
H x W Paper	13 11/16 x 9 in. (34.8 x 22.9 cm)
Literature
Collections This Print	Tokyo Metropolitan Museum 015-03; National Diet Library http://dl.ndl.go.jp/titleThumb/info:ndljp/pid/9369996