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The Meeting at Yahagi: The Beginnings of the Jorurijunidan Story
Hiroshige, Utagawa, born 1797 - died 1858 - Enlarge image
The Meeting at Yahagi: The Beginnings of the Jorurijunidan Story; Scenes from the Life of Ushiwakamaru
- Object:
Woodblock print
- Place of origin:
Japan (made)
- Date:
1849-1852 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Hiroshige, Utagawa, born 1797 - died 1858 (artist)
Ibaya Senzaburo (publisher) - Materials and Techniques:
Colour print from woodblocks
- Museum number:
E.540-1911
- Gallery location:
In Storage
This uchiwa-e (rigid fan print) design by Hiroshige is from a series illustrating episodes in the life of Ushiwakamaru, the youthful Minamoto no Yoshitsune (1159-89), one of Japan's best known tragic heroes. It shows him being met by the servant of Princess Joruri, the daughter of the wealthy landlord of Yahagi in Mikawa Province (modern Aichi Prefecture). He has attracted her attention by playing the flute he carries in his sash. The love affair that ensued was the subject of a medieval tale that survived into the Edo period (1615-1886) under a variety of appellations, including the Jorurijunidan of the title of this design.
The term joruri, which refers to the type of narrative chanting that developed in conjunction with the Bunraku puppet theatre, is said to derive from the title of this story, which was originally recited by minstrels to the accompaniment of a shamisen (a three-stringed, fretless lute).
