About This Print and Nō Sugata
Source: based on documentation kindly provided by Claus-Peter Schultz.From volume four of a twenty volume album titled Nō Sugata consisting of text, photographs, illustrations and color woodblock prints published by Unsōdō Publishing over the period 1931-1934. The woodblock prints were created by Matsuno Sōfū (1899-1963), the photographs by Genzō Kitazumi (1898-1982), the album's text was written by Kanze Sakon (1895-1939), the 24th head (sōke) of the Kanze School and Nō actor, and the preface was written by Sasakawa Rinfu (active 1920s-1930s).
For another depiction of this play by the artist see Funa Benkei, No. 15 from the series Fifty Noh Figures in Color.
The Play - Funa Benkei
Source: A Guide to No, P.G. O'Neill, Hinoki Shoten, 1929, p. 35-36.
By Kojirō
Fifth Group
All schools
Characters:
Source: A Guide to No, P.G. O'Neill, Hinoki Shoten, 1929, p. 35-36.
By Kojirō
Fifth Group
All schools
Fifth Group
All schools
Characters:
Act 1:Ko-kata - Minamoto no ToshitsuneWaki - BenkeiWaki-tsure - three retainersKyōgen - a boatmanShite - Shizuka Fozen
Act 2:Nochi-shite - the ghost of Tomomori
Benkei explains that in an attempt to clear himself of the suspicion which Yoritomo has about his younger brother's intentions, Yoshitsune has left the capital and come down to Daimotsu Bay. There Shizuka Gozen joins her lover Yoshitsune, but as Benkei insists that she must return to the capital, they have a farewell party at which Shizuka dances, and then she goes off alone. Yoshitsune and his men then put out to sea in a boat, but suddenly black clouds form, the seas rise, and the ghost of Taira no Tomomori comes upon them. It tries to seize Yoshitsune and carry him down into the sea to suffer the same fate as Tomomori himself, but is eventually driven off by the priestly poser of Benkei.
Benkei explains that in an attempt to clear himself of the suspicion which Yoritomo has about his younger brother's intentions, Yoshitsune has left the capital and come down to Daimotsu Bay. There Shizuka Gozen joins her lover Yoshitsune, but as Benkei insists that she must return to the capital, they have a farewell party at which Shizuka dances, and then she goes off alone. Yoshitsune and his men then put out to sea in a boat, but suddenly black clouds form, the seas rise, and the ghost of Taira no Tomomori comes upon them. It tries to seize Yoshitsune and carry him down into the sea to suffer the same fate as Tomomori himself, but is eventually driven off by the priestly poser of Benkei.
Print Details
| IHL Catalog | #1594 |
| Title | Funa Benkei 船弁慶 (Benkei in the Boat) |
| Series | Nō Sugata 能寿賀多 |
| Artist | Matsuno Sōfū (1899-1963) |
| Signature |  |
| Seal | 奏風 Sōfū seal beneath signature (see above) |
| Date | 1931-1934 |
| Edition | first and only |
| Publisher | Unsōdō Publishing |
| Carver | unknown |
| Printer | unknown |
| Impression | excellent |
| Colors | excellent |
| Condition | good - staining along top and left edges from mounting residue verso; light toning |
| Genre | nishiki-e; nōgaku zue 能樂圖繪 [Noh play picture] or 能絵 [Noh-e] |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Format | oban |
| H x W Paper | 9 5/8 x 11 7/8 in. (24.4 x 30.2 cm) |
| H x W Image | 9 1/2 x 11 5/8 in. (24.1 x 29.5 cm) |
| Collections This Print | Honolulu Museum of Art 26370 |
| Reference Literature |
11/14/2019
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