About This Print
Theactor Bandō Hikosabu V (1832-1877) as Inugami Hyōbu. Several sources describe this scene as being from the Hakkenden (Eight Dog Heroes) and one describes it as being from the kabuki play Ogasawara Shorei no Okunote (Ceremonial Secrets of the Ogasawara Family), but I do not know of any versions of these tales that contain the character Inugami Hyōbu. Anyhow, Inugami no Hyōbu has conjured a pack of dogs that arise out of the mist. The printer has skillful used the technique of bokashi (gradation of shade) to render the dogs.For a profile of Bandō Hikosaburō V please see the article The Kabuki Actor.
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 | #650 |
| Title (Description) | Bandō Hikosaburō V 坂東 彦三郎 as Inugami Hyōbu 犬上 兵部 |
| Series | Magic in the Twelve Signs of the Zodiac - Dog (奇術十二支之内 戌 kijutsu jūnishi no uchi - Inu) (as shown in main cartouche) |
| Artist | Toyohara Kunichika (1835–1900) |
| Signature | Toyohara Kunichika hitsu with toshidama seal |
| Seal | toshidama seal |
| Publication Date |  |
| Publisher |  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 |  |
| Impression | excellent |
| Colors | excellent |
| Condition | excellent |
| Genre | ukiyo-e; yakusha-e; mitate |
| Miscellaneous |  |
| Format | vertical oban |
| H x W Paper | 14 x 9 5/8 in. (35.6 x 24.4 cm) |
| Literature | Decadence and Dissolution: Tattoo and Kabuki Art by Kunichika, Ukiyoe-Master Series: Volume Four, Jack Hunter, ed., Solar Books, 2012 |
| Collections This Print | National Diet Library http://dl.ndl.go.jp/info:ndljp/pid/9369998 |
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