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Archives & Special Collections Exhibits

Guide on Past and Current Archives & Special Collections Exhibits @ the University of Pittsburgh Library System - Oakland (2020-present)

The Art of Noh: Woodblock Print by Tsukioka Kōgyo

Date of Exhibition: Fall 2020- Present 

Curator: Hiroyuki Good (Japanese Studies Librarian)

Location: Archives & Special Collections exhibit gallery, 3rd floor Hillman Library, University of Pittsburgh 3960 Forbes Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15260 and Digital Interactive Wall, 3rd floor Hillman Library

Description: The Art of Noh: Woodblock Prints by Tsukioka Kōgyo showcases reproductions of a spectacular series of Japanese color woodblock prints by the artist Tsukioka Kōgyo (1869-1927). They are inspired by Noh, a theater form that originated in Japan in the fourteenth century, and represent a wide variety of performers as well as demons and ghosts.

Hagoromo 羽衣  Hagoromo 羽衣

 A celestial maiden wearing her heavenly robe of feathers dances for a fisherman. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Seal: Red characters with red border in oval shape: 耕/漁 [Kōgyo]. Category: Woman (Third).

Hagoromo 羽衣  Hagoromo 羽衣

 A heavenly angel dances for a fisherman at Matsubara after he returns her heavenly robe to her. Accompanying musicians, a flutist and three drummers appear in the background of the print. Mizuta Number: 12. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Seal: White letter seal in a square shape: 年久/之印 [Toshihisa no in]. Category: Woman (Third).

Yuya 熊野  Yuya 熊野

 The courtesan Yuya stands in an ox-drawn cart for cherry blossom viewing. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Seal: Red characters with red border in round shape: 静/如 [Sei'nyo] (Quiet). Category: Woman (Third).

Futari Shizuka 二人静  Futari Shizuka 二人静

 The ghost of Shizuka-gozen, and a woman whose spirit the ghost has possessed, perform a dance together. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Seal: One white character on red background and one red character with red border, both in square shape: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Category: Woman (Third).

Kappo 合浦Kappo 合浦

 A fish in human form appears on stage (underwater in the story) and gives a local villager a jewel that assures long life and protection from all ills. Mizuta Number: 58. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Seal: White and red letter seals in a pair: 耕・漁 [Kō・gyo]. Category: Demon (Fifth).

Shakkyō sōzu (left) 石橋 双圖  Shakkyō sōzu (left) 石橋 双圖

 Left image of diptych. White lion dances among the peonies. Category: Demon (Fifth).

 

 

 

Shakkyō sōzu (right) 石橋 双圖  Shakkyō sōzu (right) 石橋 双圖

 Right image of diptych. Red lion dances among the peonies. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Seal: Black characters with black border in vertical rectangular shape: 師子坐 [Shishiza] (tr.:"Lion's seat." Refers to the vehicle of Monju, Buddhist deity of wisdom). Category: Demon (Fifth).

Tsuchigumo 土蜘  Tsuchigumo 土蜘

 The demonic earth-spider in its lair, protected by threads of a web. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Seal: Red characters with red border in square shape: 耕/漁 [Kōgyo]. Category: Demon (Fifth).

Momijigari (left) 紅葉狩 双圖  Momijigari (left) 紅葉狩 双圖

 Left image of diptych. A lady of rank dances under maple trees (momiji) to entertain Koremochi. Signature:耕漁 [Kōgyo] Seal: Red characters with a red border in rectangular shape: 青苔地 [Seitaichi] (Groud of green moss). Category: Demon (Fifth).

 

 

Momijigari (right) 紅葉狩 双圖  Momijigari (right) 紅葉狩 双圖

 Right image of diptych. After drinking wine, Koremochi falls asleep. Category: Demon (Fifth).

Momijigari 紅葉狩  Momijigari 紅葉狩

 A lady of rank entertains Taira no Koremochi who falls asleep in a drunken  stupor. He awakens with divine help and vanquishes her, now a demon, with his sword. Mizuta Number: 17. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Seal: White letter seal in an oval shape: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Category: Demon (Fifth).

Okina 翁  Okina 翁

 Okina, in a performance with deep religious feeling, sings and dances to win the help of the gods in obtaining peace and prosperity in the land and long life for its people.” Mizuta Number: 3. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Seal: White letter seal in a square shape: 年久/之印 [Toshihisa no in]. Category: Okina.

Okina Shikisan sōzu (left) 翁 弍三 双圖  Okina Shikisan sōzu (left) 翁 弍三 双圖

 Left image of triptych. Performers arrive on stage. On the left, Sanbansō (the third dancer), musicians, and chorus sit on the stage. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo ]. Seal: Red characters with red border in square shape: 天下泰平 [Tenka taihei] (Peace in the World). Category: Okina.

 

Okina Shikisan sōzu (centre) 翁 弍三 双圖  Okina Shikisan sōzu (centre) 翁 弍三 双圖

 Center image of triptych. Okina dances for peace and prosperity in the realm. Category: Okina.

 

 

 

Okina Shikisan sōzu (right) 翁 弍三 双圖  Okina Shikisan sōzu (right) 翁 弍三 双圖

 Right image of triptych. Stagehands (kōken) surround a box holding masks (menbako). The character Senzai (the first dancer in the play), kneels nearby. Category: Okina.

Ataka sōzu (left) 安宅 双圖 (左)  Ataka sōzu (left) 安宅 双圖 (左)

 Left image of a diptych. The warrior Benkei strikes his master Yoshitsune (disguised as a servant) in an attempt to allay suspicion by officials at Ataka Barrier. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo] Seal: One white character on red background and one red character with red border, both in square shape: 耕・漁 [Kōgyo]. Category: Miscellaneous (Fourth).

 

  Ataka sōzu (right) 安宅 双圖 (右)Ataka sōzu (right) 安宅 双圖 (右)

 Right image of diptych. Officials of the Ataka Barrier suspect that the young servant is the fugitive Yoshitsune in disguise. Category: Miscellaneous (Fourth).

Kosode Soga 小袖曾我  Kosode Soga 小袖曾我

 The Soga brothers prepare to kill their father’s enemy during a hunting expedition. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Seal: Red characters with red border in rectangular shape: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Category: Miscellaneous (Fourth).

Kosode Soga 小袖曽我  Kosode Soga 小袖曽我

 Two Soga brothers, Jūrō and Gorō, dance for their mother before going off to fight their father’s enemy. Mizuta Number: 36. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Seal: Red letter seal in a square shape: 耕/漁 [Kōgyo]. Category: Miscellaneous (Fourth).

Aoi no ue 葵上 Aoi no ue 葵上

 Lady Rokujō, who was the former mistress of Prince Genji, appears as an evil spirit expressing jealousy and hatred toward Lady Aoi (Aoi no ue). Lady Aoi is represented on the stage by a folded robe. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Seal: White characters on red background in rectangular shape: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Category: Miscellaneous (Fourth).

Aoi no ue 葵上  Aoi no ue 葵上

 A priest subdues the angry spirit of Lady Rokujō, who has taken possession of Lady Aoi, who is represented in the play by a kimono on the stage. Lady Rokujō hates Lady Aoi because the latter succeeded the former in the affections of Genji. Mizuta Number: 35. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Seal: Red letter seal in a double ring shape: 湖・畔 [Ko・han]. Category: Miscellaneous (Fourth).

Dōjōji 道成寺  Dōjōji 道成寺

 A female dancer, thinking Anchin, a celibate priest, was her betrothed, comes searching for him at Dōjōji Temple in Kii Province. She performs a very slow-moving dance near the bell (the choreography is in the top inset), pulls the bell over her head, and emerges as a serpent wearing a mask like the one in the second inset. Mizuta Number: 10. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Seal: White letter seal in a square shape: 年久/之印 [Toshihisa no in]. Category: Woman (Third).

Dōjōji ato shite 道成寺 後シテ  Dōjōji ato shite 道成寺 後シテ

 The woman, now transformed into a demon. Signature: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Seal: One white character on red background, and one red character with red border, both in square shape: 耕漁 [Kōgyo]. Category: Miscellaneous (Fourth).

Exhibit Photographs