About This Print and Nō SugataSource: 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 other prints depicting Shakkyō see Nōga taikan, Shakkyō.
The Play - Shakkyō
Source: A Guide to No, P.G. O'Neill, Hinoki Shoten, 1929, p. 158-159.
Characters
Act 1: waki - a priest; shite- a child; kyōgen - a hermit
Act 2: nochi-shite - a lion
A priest [the Monk Jakushō] goes to China to visit famous Buddhist places. One day he is about to cross a stone bridge across a ravine when child appears. He hears from the child that since the land on the other side of the bridge is the Paradise of the deity Monju Bosatsu [Monjusri Bodhisattva], even famous priests in olden times could only cross it after long and severe religious training. Telling the priest that if he waits by the bridge he will see something wonderful, the child disappears. After a while, a lion emerges and gambols and dances among the peony flowers - the king of beast enjoying the most majestic of flowers. [Some productions use two or more lion dancers.]
Print Details| IHL Catalog | #1592 | | Title | Shakkyō 石橋 (Stone Bridge)
| | Series/Album | Nō Sugata 能寿賀多 | Artist
| Matsuno Sōfū (1899-1963)
| Signature
| 奏風 Sōfū | | 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 | excellent - minor staining along top edge from mounting residue on verso; light toning
| | Genre | nishiki-e; Nōgaku zue [Noh play picture] | | Miscellaneous |
| | Format | oban | | H x W Paper | 11 7/8 x 9 3/4 in. (30.2 x 24.8 cm) | | H x W Image | 11 5/8 x 9 7/16 in. ( 29.5 x 24 cm) | | Collections This Print |
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