Accession Number
2003/1.485.1

Title
Kiichi Hōgen and His Book of Strategy: Ichimura Uzaemon XIII as Ushiwakamaru

Artist(s)
Utagawa Kunisada

Artist Nationality
Japanese (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
1861

Medium & Support
woodblock print on paper

Dimensions
14 3/8 in x 9 13/16 in (36.5 cm x 25 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Dr. James Hayes

Subject matter
Kiichi Hōgen and His Book of Strategy is a part of the Heike cycle of plays based on the war between the Taira and Minamoto clans at the end of the twelfth century. Ushiwakamaru is the childhood name of Minamoto Yoshitsune, one of Shogun Minamoto Yoritomo’s brothers. This play was first performed as a bunraku (puppet) play before being adapted for kabuki.

Actor Ichimura Uzaemon XIII also held the name Onoe Kikugorō V. He was born to a family of kabuki actors in Edo in 1844. He was active from the time he was a child, in 1848, until shortly before his death in 1903. He was known for his roles in contemporary plays and was the head of the Nakamura-za in 1869.

Physical Description
In this print, a man holds a black and gold lacquer box in his right hand and looks to his left.  He wears a purple robe with a blue and white striped lapel.  A sword is sheathed at his side.  Pink flowers stand out against a dark background behind her.  A black and white checkered strip borders the top of the print.
 
This is the left panel of a diptych.
 
Inscriptions: Ushiwakamaru, Ichimura Uzaemon (Title); Hanmoto Izutsuya (Publisher's seal); Tori 9, aratame (Censor's seal); Toyokuni ga (Artist's signature)

Primary Object Classification
Print

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form. Keywords
Chrysanthemum (genus)
actors
boxes (containers)
kabuki
kimonos