About This Print
One of 261 prints from the series Nōgakuzue (Illustrations of Noh). The print depicts a scene from the play Tenko, attributed to the playwright Zeami Motokiyo (1363-1443), in which Tenko's father appears before an Emperor's official to play his son's drum. For another depiction of this play see IHL Cat. #1814 Tenko (The Drum from Heaven) by Hasegawa Sadanobu III (Konobu III) (1881-1963).
For background on the Noh theater see the article on this site "Noh - A Brief Summary by Beata Kubiak Ho-Chi".
Museum Commentary:
Source: Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery http://web-kiosk.scrippscollege.edu/Obj22368?sid=12048&x=13846460The Play - Tenko
Source: A Guide to Kyogen, Don Kenny, Hinoki Shoten, 1968, p. 188-189.
Act 1: Waki - an Imperial envoy
Shite - an old man, the father of Tenko
Kyōgen - a servant
Act 2: Nochi-shite - the ghost of Tenko
Aboy name Tenko has a wonderful drum which had come down from Heaven, but when this was taken from him to be presented to the Emperor he drowned himself. An Imperial envoy tells this story and explains that as no one has been able to make any sound come from the drum since it was taken to the Palace, he has been sent to fetch the father of Tenko. Together they go to the Palace, and when the father strikes the drum it gives out such a miraculous sound that he is promised a rich reward and a musical performance is arranged to placate the soul of his son. When this is done, the ghost of Tenko comes and dances before them.
Act 1: Waki - an Imperial envoy
Shite - an old man, the father of Tenko
Kyōgen - a servant
Act 2: Nochi-shite - the ghost of Tenko
Aboy name Tenko has a wonderful drum which had come down from Heaven, but when this was taken from him to be presented to the Emperor he drowned himself. An Imperial envoy tells this story and explains that as no one has been able to make any sound come from the drum since it was taken to the Palace, he has been sent to fetch the father of Tenko. Together they go to the Palace, and when the father strikes the drum it gives out such a miraculous sound that he is promised a rich reward and a musical performance is arranged to placate the soul of his son. When this is done, the ghost of Tenko comes and dances before them.
For additional information on this play go to the Noh Plays DataBase website http://www.the-noh.com/en/plays/data/program_021.html
Right Margin Description of Scene
(click on image to enlarge)
Print Details
| IHL Catalog | #946 |
| Title | Tenko 天鼓 (The Drum From Heaven) |
| Series | Nōgakuzue 能樂圖繪 (Illustrations of Noh) |
| Artist | Tsukioka Kōgyo (1869-1927) |
| Signature |  |
| Seal |  [ref. seal #89, p. 172 in The Beauty of Silence] |
| Date | Printed on June 1, 1899 (Meiji 32) / Issue date June 5, 1899 明治三十二年六月一日 印刷 / 仝年仝月五日発行 (note: issue date is trimmed and not visible on this collection's print) The ARC database entry for their print arcUP0974 carries the following dates: 明治三十二年六月一日印刷仝年仝月五日発行 Printed on June 1, 1899 (Meiji 32) / Issue date June 5, 1899 |
| Edition | unknown |
| Publisher | Matsuki Heikichi (Daikokuya Heikichi 大黒屋平) [Marks: pub. ref. 029] |
| Carver | |
| Impression | IHL Cat. #946: excellent IHL Cat. #1925: excellent |
| Colors | IHL Cat. #946: excellent IHL Cat. #1925: excellent |
| Condition | IHL Cat. #946: good - minor soiling; wrinkling of paper left 1/3 of print; left margin partially trimmed IHL Cat. #1925: good - minor soiling; album backing paper; left margin trimmed |
| Genre | ukiyo-e |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Format | oban yoko-e |
| H x W Paper | IHL Cat. #946: 9 9/16 x 14 1/16 in. (24.3 x 35.7 cm) IHL Cat. #1925: 9 1/2 x 13 15/16 in. (24.1 x 35.4 cm) |
| H x W Image | IHL Cat. #946: 8 15/16 x 12 15/16 in. (22.7 x 32.9 cm) area within printed black border IHL Cat. #1925: 8 15/16 x 12 15/16 in. (22.7 x 32.9 cm) area within printed black border |
| Collections This Print | University of Pittsburgh Special Collections 20091209-kogyo-0310; Scripps College Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery 2011.11.32; Art Institute Chicago 1939.2258.129; Art Research Center, Ritsumeikan University AcNo.arcUP0765 CoGNo.arcUP0735AlGNo.arcUP0735 and AcNo.arcUP0974 CoGNo.arcUP0840AlGNo.arcUP0840; The Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum of Waseda University 201-4972; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 53.2928.30; The Walters Art Museum 95.264 |
| Reference Literature |
9/25/18
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