About This Print

Number 27* of 200 prints issued as part of the series Nōga taikan (Encyclopedia of Noh Plays) depicting a scene from the play Manjū by the playwright Zeami Motokiyo (1363-1443.)  This print still maintains its semi-transparent cover sheet providing information on the play and its characters.

The Play - Manjū

Source: A Guide to No, P.G. O'Neill, Hinoki Shoten, 1929, p. 100-101.

Tada no Manjū has sent his son Bijo to be educated in a temple.  When the boy returns, Manjū is so enraged by his neglect of his studies that he goes to strike him with his sword, but his faithful retainer Nakamitsu restrains him.  At this, Manjū orders him to kill Bijo himself.  Unable to ignore the order altogether, and yet finding it impossible to kill his master's son, Nakamitsu finally resolves his dilemma by killing instead his own son Kōju, who himself asked to be allowed to take Bijo's place.  When Manjū  later regrets the hastiness which has led, he thinks, to the death of his own son, Bijo is brought back to him by a priest from the temple where Nakamitsu sent him to hide.  Learning of the extent of Nakamitsu's devotion, Manjū pardons his son and then asks his retainer to perform a dance for them.  This Nakamitsu does, in celebration of the reconciliation, but all the time his thoughts are on his own son whom he has sacrificed to serve his lord.

Print Details

IHL Catalog	#725
Title	Manjū 満仲 (Kanze name: Nakamitsu 仲光)
Series	Nōga taikan 能画大鑑 (Encyclopedia of Noh Plays or A Great Mirror of Noh Pictures or A Great Collection of Noh Pictures)
Artist	Tsukioka Kōgyo (1869-1927)
Signature	Kōgyo
Seal	Kōgyo seal
Date	July 5, 1926
Edition	unknown
Publisher	Seibi Shoten (or Seibi Shoin), Tokyo
Carver	Uchida Eikichi
Printer	Yoshida Takesaburō
Impression	excellent
Colors	excellent
Condition	excellent; one pin hole upper left of image; binding holes right side
Genre	ukiyo-e
Miscellaneous
Format	oban yoko-e
H x W Paper	10 x 14 3/4 in. (25.4 x 37.5 cm)
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