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The Ken Game of the Three Countries (Sangoku ken): Actors Ichimura Uzaemon XII, Seki Sanjûrô III, and Nakamura Utaemon IV as Animals


「三国拳」 十二代目市村羽左衛門、三代目関三十郎、四代目中村歌右衛門
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (Japanese, 1797–1861)
Publisher: Ôtaya Takichi (Hori Takichi) (Japanese)
Japanese
Edo period
1849 (Kaei 2), 1st month

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions Vertical ôban; 35.5 x 25 cm (14 x 9 13/16 in.)
Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.42129
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints

Catalogue Raisonné Tokyo Metropolitan Central Library collection 584-C015; Linhart, "Interpreting...," in Japan at Play (2002), translation of poem p. 46 (this print not shown)
DescriptionPlay (shosa): Shinki Ikken Tori no Hatsugoe (A Ken Game with New Rules to the First Cry of the Cock)
Play (main feature): Aoto Banashi
Theater: Ichimura
新規一拳酉魁声(しんきいっけんとりのはつごえ)
青砥調(あおとばなし)
市村、四立目
1849、嘉永02、01・17
Signed Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi giga
一勇斎国芳戯画
Marks Censors' seals: Hama, Magome
No blockcutter's mark
改印:浜、馬込
彫師:なし
InscriptionsSong: Omae onna no na de O-Isesan, kagura ga osuki de toppiki pii no pii, shishi wa Morokoshi Kôshi-sama, Ten-Ten-Tenjiku o Shaka-sama, maruku osamaru sangokuken, nan no kotta jabujabu ohige o nadenade, kururi to mawatte ikken shiyo
ProvenanceBy 1911, purchased by William Sturgis Bigelow (b. 1850–d. 1926), Boston [see note 1]; 1911, gift of Bigelow to the MFA. (Accession Date: January 19, 2005)

NOTES:
[1] Much of Bigelow's collection of Asian art was formed during his residence in Japan between 1882 and 1889, although he also made acquisitions in Europe and the United States. Bigelow deposited many of these objects at the MFA in 1890 before donating them to the Museum's collection at later dates.