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Kyōgen Gojūban, Chidori

 

 Japanese Color Woodblock Print

Chidori 千鳥 (Catching Plovers)

from the series Kyōgen Gojūban

by Tsukioka Gyokusei, 1927


IHL Cat. #859

About This Print

One of thirty-four prints designed by Tsukioka Gyokusei (1908-1994) in the series Kyōgen Gojūban (Fifty Kyogen Plays) started by her father Tsukioka Kōgyo (1869-1927).   Tsukioka Kōgyo designed sixteen prints for the series before his death.

For information on the series Kyōgen Gojūban, see the section Final Series of Prints (1927) - Kyōgen gojūban (Fifty Kyōgen Plays) under the artist Tsukioka Kōgyo (1869-1927).

The Play - Chidori

Source: A Guide to Kyogen, Don Kenny, Hinoki Shoten, 1968, p.42-43.
The Master orders Tar
ō Kaja to go get a barrel of sake for the festival which is the next day.  Tarō Kaja reminds him that he already has big sake bill, but the Master insists that he get it somehow or other.

The Sake Shop Owner is determined not to be tricked this time.  Tarō Kaja, first of all, talks him into filling the barrel by telling him that several loads of rice are on their way from his Master to pay the bill.  The Owner insists that Tarō Kaja wait to leave until the rice arrives.

The Owner always enjoys hearing about Tarō Kaja's trips and adventures, so Tarō Kaja tells him about some children he saw recently catching plovers on a beach.  He gets the owner to participate in the story in the form of a song and dance game.  He tries to get away with the sake barrel by using it as a net, then as a plover.  The Owner tires of this game soon, so Tarō Kaja begins to demonstrate horseback archery using the barrel as a target.  He finally grabs the barrel and runs off.  The owner curses his luck at being tricked once more and chases out after Tarō Kaja.

Print Details

 IHL Catalog #859
 Title Chidori 千鳥 (Catching Plovers)
 Series Kyōgen Gojūban 狂言五十番 (Fifty Kyogen Plays)
 Artist 
 Tsukioka Gyokusei (1908-1994)
 Signature 
 Kōbun 江 文
 Seal
Red letter seal in a round shape: 岡 [Oka or Kō]
 Date 1927
 Edition likely first and only
 Publisher
Matsuki Heikichi (Daikokuya)松木平吉 (大黒屋) and fan-shaped seal reading published by Daikokuya, Tokyo, Ryōgoku 東京両国 大黒屋 発行
[Marks: pub. ref. 029; seal not shown]
 Carver 
 Impression excellent
 Colors excellent
 Condition excellent - minor marks
 Genre ukiyo-e
 Miscellaneous
 Format oban yoko-e
 H x W Paper 10 x 14 7/8 in. (25.4 x 37.8 cm)
 Collections This Print Art Institute of Chicago 1943.832.39; University of Pittsburgh (as part of a bound volume of the entire series Kyōgen gojūban) 20101012-kogyo-0055
 Reference Literature