Soga monogatari-e　曽我物語絵

KEY WORD :　art history / paintings

A pictorial subject depicting scenes from SOGA MONOGATARI 曽我物語 (The Tale of The Soga), a seminal warrior tale gunki monogatari 軍記物語 of filial piety and retribution known in many permutations from the 17c onward. Based on legends surrounding the warrior Soga brothers Soga kyoudai 曽我兄弟, Juurou Sukenari 十郎祐成 (1172-93) and Gorou Tokimune 五郎時致 (1174-93), the story was first told by traveling entertainers who gradually added new elements of romance and adventure. The first account of the revenge was written in the early 15c, and soon after became the subject of ballad drama kouwakamai 幸若舞 and *nou 能 plays. Chikamatsu Monzaemon 近松門左衛門 (1653-1724) wrote several puppet plays joururi 浄瑠璃 on the theme, but it was the anonymous *kabuki 歌舞伎 play SOGA NO TAIMEN 曽我の対面 (The Soga Brothers' Audience with their Enemy) first performed in 1676, that became most popular. Later several other kabuki plays, ranging from *YA-NO-NE 矢の根 to KARIBA NO ADAUCHI 狩場の仇討 and KUSAZURIBIKI 草摺曳, created new plots involving the Soga brothers. Although roughly one-quarter of the Tale consists of digressions on Buddhism and Chinese history, the basic Tale follows Kudou Suketsune 工藤祐経 who, angry at losing the inheritance of his uncle Itou Sukechika 伊藤祐近, had his uncle's son Kouzu Saburou Sukemichi 河津三郎祐道 murdered. Eighteen years later, on the 18th day of the Fifth month of 1193, Sukemichi's two sons, Juurou and Gorou, killed Suketsune during a hunting party on Mt. Fuji 富士. Juurou was killed in the ambush but Gorou was captured. Although Minamoto no Yoritomo 源頼朝 (1147-99), applauding the brothers' bravery and loyalty, wanted to pardon Gorou, Suketsune's son demanded execution. The SOGA NO TAIMEN in kabuki revolves around the Soga brothers' New Years' audience with Suketsune. Unable to control his outrage at seeing his father's murderer, Gorou throws down his cup of sake 酒 and challenges his host. While Juurou restrains his brother, Suketsune boldly invites the two young men to hunt with him in the spring. The play is customarily staged at the New Year. Illustrations of the Tale of the Soga appear on screens (Maeda 前田 collection, Osaka) and in warrior prints *musha-e 武者絵 by *ukiyo-e 浮世絵 artists such as Utagawa Kuniyoshi 歌川国芳 (1797-1861), and Kunisada 国貞 (1786-1864). More common are actor prints *yakusha-e 役者絵 of SOGA NO TAIMEN, by many artists. Notable examples include illustrations by Katsukawa Shunshou 勝川春章 (1726-92), Toushuusai Sharaku 東洲斎写楽 (act.1794), Katsukawa Shun'ei 勝川春英 (1762-1819), Utagawa Toyokuni 歌川豊国 (1769-1825), and Kunisada. There are also painting picture *mitate-e 見立絵 on this theme.

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