Illustrated
Edo period woodblock printed books containing humorous poems known as kyouka
狂歌. Early examples include the 1679 KOKON KYOUKASEN 古今狂歌仙, compiled
by Aikou Ken 愛香軒 and published in Kyoto, and the 1681 BOKUYOU KYOUKASHUU卜養狂歌集,
written by Nakarai Bokuyou 半井卜養 (1607-78), with illustrations by Hishikawa
Moronobu 菱川師宣 (c. 1618-94). Kyouka became very popular in Edo during
the Tenmei 天明 era (1781-89) and continued to be popular among both townsmen
and samurai. Kitagawa Utamaro 喜多川歌麿 (1753-1806) and other prominent
*ukiyo-e 浮世絵 masters
produced eiri kyoukabon, and many finely produced, multi-colored versions
were turned out by the publisher Tsutaya Juuzaburou 蔦屋重三郎 (1750-97). The
finest eiri kyoukabon were produced during the Tenmei and Kansei
寛政 eras (1781-1801). An early example is the AZUMABURI KYOUKA BUNKO
吾妻曲狂歌文庫, complied by Yadoya Meshimori 宿屋飯盛 and published in 1786.
Just after the turn of century, the painter and print designer Katsushika
Hokusai 葛飾北斎 (1760-1849) produced a type of design where the kyouka
runs as an inscription at the top of the picture, rather than the previous
style in which the picture held a prominent position with the kyouka
following. This style of composition by Hokusai is more properly called
kyouka ehon 狂歌絵本. At the end of the Edo period, eiri kyoukabon
were still being produced in great numbers, but with light coloring in contrast
to the richly colored works of the earlier period. |
