Why the Treasury of Loyal Retainers? Fujisawa’s Hero Oguri Hangan and Edo Kabuki
Exhibition Contents
This exhibit will display ukiyo-e related to the kabuki play, The Treasury of Loyal Retainers, and the story of Oguri Hangan. The Treasury of Loyal Retainers is a dramatized story inspired by the real-life revenge of the Ako Roushi, told through the characters of Taiheiki, a historic epic established during the Muromachi period (1336-1573). In addition to The Treasury of Loyal Retainers, the Ako incident inspired many ningyojoururi (puppet play) and kabuki plays, capturing the hearts of the people of Edo. Early examples of such works include plays that borrowed characters from Oguri Hangan, a legend that represented Fujisawa that became widely known at the start of the Edo period.
This exhibit will introduce the fascinating aspects of The Treasury of Loyal Retainers while also focusing on the area of Fujisawa.
The series Fifty-three Stations of the Toukaidou Corner
Fujisawa, from the series “Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido Highway by Two Brushes”
Fujisawa Inn Corner
Fujisawa: Oguri-Hangan, from the series Fifty-three Stations of the Toukaidou (Actors Assorted in Fifty-three Stations of the Toukaidou)
Enoshima Corner
Parody of Hyakunin Isshu (Classical Japanese anthology of 100 Japanese waka poetries by 100 poets) by O’nakatomi no Yoshinobu-ason
Special Exhibition Corner
Parody of Act Eight of “Forty-seven Ronin (Chushingura)”