Actor dancing devil dance. Original engraving author Natori Shunsen Painting

The action of the play "Kokaiji" takes the viewer to the year 980 and tells the story of how the master Munetika forged a new sword on the orders of Emperor Ishijo. As you know, the sword in Japan has long been a sacred regalia of power. Munetika, fearing not to cope with such a responsible task, goes to the Fusumi shrine in Kyoto to ask Inari, the god of grain and harvest, the patron of crafts, to help him. Hearing the prayers given to him, Inari comes to the aid of the master, and together they forge a magnificent sword, which receives the name Kogitsune-maru ("Little Fox"). Kokaiji, a famous play by Noh Theater, was redone and staged at the Kabuki Theater in 1939. Therefore, it preserved many elements of No: musical accompaniment, chants, dance numbers woven into the outline of the action. On an engraving, Shunsen depicted Hanayagi Zusuke II, playing the role of the god Inari, at the time of his first appearance in the play. The actor is dressed in a magnificent costume in the style of the No theater, on his head is a huge white wig, and his face is covered with a kumadori (make-up of the Kabuki theater), unlike No, where masks were used. In his hands he holds a hoe (instrument of the farmer) and performs a ritual dance, standing on the hanamiti (platform in the center of the auditorium). On the head of Inari is a figurine of a jumping fox, and from under the folds of a kimono, the tip of the fox tail peeks out. This is no coincidence, since kitsune (werewolf fox) is considered the messenger of the god Inari and even his embodiment.

Multi-paneled Painting:Gouache on Paper

Original:One-of-a-kind Artwork

Size:9.8 W x 14.8 H x 0.1 D in

Number of Panels:2

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