Gigado Ashiyuki (active. 1813 - 1833) Nakamura Shikan as Goro Tokimune, 1825. Chuban.
Click here for a full-size image.
This beautiful surimono style print is a rare piece by Ashiyuki. It pictures a scene from the wildly popular novel and theatre drama depicting the lives of the Soga brothers. In the legend, Ito Sukeyasu was murdered by his cousin Kudo Suketsune in 1177, leaving behind two young sons. Their mother remarried, and her new husband adopted the elder son Juro Sukenari. The younger brother, Goro Tokimune was sent to a Buddhist temple to become a monk. However, the two brothers - typically - desired to revenge their father and secretly trained themselves for that task. When they were grown, they found Kudo Suketsune in a hunting camp at the slopes of Mount Fuji, and killed him. In the ensuing fight with Kudo's retainers Juro was killed and Goro was captured and executed. In the kabuki version of this tale, the death of the Soga brothers has a positive outcome in that the Shogun Yoritomo honors the brothers' deed by reinstalling their mother as the legitimate owner of her late husband's estate.
In this print, the young Tokimune is shown holding a begging bowl. As a part of the plot to revenge their father, Tokimune adopted disguises as a pedlar and beggar in order to spy on the enemy. He wears a butterfly kimomo, identifying him as the young Soga hero.
A delicate print, beautifully shaded. Condition, colour and impression are good.
26cm x 20cm.
