About This Print
Description of Scene
as written on print
click on image to enlarge
The Play - Asō
Source: A Guide to Kyogen, Don Kenny, Hinoki Shoten, 1968, p. 23-24
Characters:
Shite - Daimyō from Shinano (Asō) Ado - Tōroku
Koado - Geroku
Koado - Eboshi seller
A Daimyō from Shinano named Asō calls his servants Tōroku and Geroku and informs them that he has finished his business in the capital and that they will all go home today. Since they haven't been home for a long time, they are very happy. Tōroku suggests that since it has been a long time, the Daimyō should dress in the best ceremonial style for his return trip. The Daimyō agrees, but says he has not made such preparations. Tōroku and Geroku reply that they have made the necessary preparations, that the proper clothes are ready and the eboshi (a ceremonial lacquered hat) has been ordered. The Daimyō says the hair style is very difficult to do and Tōroku replies that he has learned how to do it. The Daimyō, very happy at the efficiency of his servants, sends Geroku after the hat and orders Tōroku to fix his hair. The hair takes a long time during which the Daimyō asks about various things, such as the pattern and color of the new clothes, etc. Geroku has still not returned when Tōroku has finished fixing the Daimyō's hair, so he goes out in search of him.
Geroku has received the hat on a stick because the lacquer was not yet dry. On the way home he loses his way. Tōroku runs into him and scolds him for forgetting the way to his own master's house. They enter a house and find it is the wrong one. Thus it turns out that Tōroku has also forgotten which house is their master's. This time Geroku does the scolding. They decide to put their problem in a song and in this way search for their master's house. The Daimyō hears them and rewards them with rice cakes for their cleverness.
Print Details
| IHL Catalog | #1930 |
| Title | Asō 麻生 (Asō has His Hair Fixed) |
| Series | Nōgakuzue 能樂圖繪 (Illustrations of Noh) |
| Artist | Tsukioka Kōgyo (1869-1927) |
| Signature |  |
| Seal | Red letter seal in a rectangular shape with double border: 耕漁 (as shown above) |
| Date | Date is trimmed from the left margin of this collection's print. University of Pittsburgh dates the print c. 1901. |
| Edition | unknown |
| Publisher | Matsuki Heikichi (Daikokuya Heikichi 大黒屋平) [Marks: pub. ref. 029] Publishing information is trimmed from the left margin. |
| Carver | |
| Impression | excellent |
| Colors | excellent |
| Condition | good - minor soiling; original album backing; left margin trimmed |
| Genre | ukiyo-e; 能楽図絵 Nōgaku zue [Noh play picture] |
| Miscellaneous | The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston notes Part II, Section I, kōhen, jō 後編、上下 |
| Format | ōban yoko-e |
| H x W Paper | 9 1/2 x 13 7/8 in. (24.1 x 35.2 cm) |
| H x W Image | 8 7/8 x 13 1/8 in. (22.5 x 33.3 cm) area within printed black border |
| Collections This Print | Art Institute Chicago 1939.2258.214 (1898?); University of Pittsburgh 20091209-kogyo-0450 (c. 1901); Japan Arts Council BK014-294 (?); |
| Reference Literature |
9/24/18
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