About This Print
One of 200 prints issued as part of the series Nōga taikan (Encyclopedia of Noh Plays). The artist Tsukioka Kōgyo (1869-1927) designed the vast majority of prints for this series, but died before its completion. His student Matsuno Sōfū (1899-1963) designed this print and twenty-three additional prints for this series after Kōgyo's death.1 This print depicts a scene from the play Jinen Koji by the playwright Kanami (1333-1384). For another depiction of this play see IHL Cat. #1046.1 According to Robert Schapp in The Beauty of Silence: Nō and Nature Prints by Tsukioka Kōgyo (1869-1927), "Sōfū's contributions all appear in what would have been the first album, but in fact the last published on January 25, 1930."
The Play - Jinen Koji (Jinen the Lay Monk)
Source: A Guide to No, P.G. O'Neill, Hinoki Shoten, 1929, p. 64.Kyōgen - a local person
Shite - Jinen Koji
Ko-kata - a young girl
Waki - a slave-dealer
Waki-tsure - a slave dealer
While the lay priest Jinen is preaching at the Ungo-ji temple, a young girl comes and gives him a robe as a gift. In a letter accompanying it she explains that she has sold herself to buy the robe in order to have the priest say a mass for her dead parents. As Jinen is reading this, the men who have bought the girl come and take her away. Much moved by this, the preacher hurries after them when he is told what has happened, and demands that they release the girl. This they at first refuse to do, but after Jinen has entertained them with all manner of songs and dances, they agree to give the girl up.
While the lay priest Jinen is preaching at the Ungo-ji temple, a young girl comes and gives him a robe as a gift. In a letter accompanying it she explains that she has sold herself to buy the robe in order to have the priest say a mass for her dead parents. As Jinen is reading this, the men who have bought the girl come and take her away. Much moved by this, the preacher hurries after them when he is told what has happened, and demands that they release the girl. This they at first refuse to do, but after Jinen has entertained them with all manner of songs and dances, they agree to give the girl up.
Print Details
| IHL Catalog | #708 |
| Title | Jinen Koji 自然居士 (Jinen the Lay Monk) |
| Series | Nōga taikan (Encyclopedia of Noh Plays) |
| Artist | Matsuno Sōfū (1899-1963) |
| Signature | Sōfū |
| Seal |  Sōfū |
| Date | 1930 |
| Edition | unknown |
| Publisher | Seibi Shoten, Tokyo |
| Carver | Uchida Eikichi |
| Printer | Yoshida Takesaburō |
| Impression | excellent |
| Colors | excellent |
| Condition | fair - numerous spots foxing; 1/4" tare right corner of top margin; corner folds |
| Genre | nishiki-e; Nōgaku zue [Noh play picture] |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Format | oban yoko-e |
| H x W Paper | 10 x 14 1/2 in. (25.4 x 36.8 cm) |
| Collections This Print | |
| Reference Literature |
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