About This Print

One of 200 prints issued as part of the series Nōga taikan (Encyclopedia of Noh Plays), it depicts a scene from the play Shiga by the playwright Zeami Motokiyo (1363-1443).  For another depiction of this play by the artist see Nōgakuzue, Shiga.

The Play - Shiga 志賀

Source: A Guide to No, P.G. O'Neill, Hinoki Shoten, 1929, p.161.

By Zeami

Characters:

Act 1:

Waki - A Court official

Waki-tsure - two retainers

Tsure - a wooductter

Shite - an old woodcutter

Kyōgen - a local person

Act 2:

Nochi-shite - the god Shiga no Myōjin

A Court official who has come to Shiga to view the cherry blossom sees two woodcutters resting under a cherry tree with branches of the blossom added to their already heavy load of wood.  Impressed by this, he speaks to them and during their talk, the old man tells of Ōtomo no Kuronushi, the poet of old who is deified and worshiped in the shrine at Shiga.  He hints that he is Kuronushi and then vanishes.  While the official is resting under the tree that night, he sees the god come and, rejoicing at the prosperous reign, performs a dance.

Print Details

IHL Catalog	#138
Title	Shiga 志賀
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	1925-1930
Edition	unknown
Publisher	Seibi Shoten (or Seibi Shoin), Tokyo
Carver	Uchida Eikichi
Printer	Yoshida Takesaburō
Impression	excellent
Colors	excellent
Condition	good - minor wrinkling; not backed
Genre	ukiyo-e
Miscellaneous
Format	oban yoko-e
H x W Paper	10 x 14 3/8 in. (25.4 x 36.5 cm)
Collections This Print	Scripps College 2001.2.61
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