Description and analysis Kōmei Bijin Rokkasen

1 description , analysis

1.1 naniwaya o-kita
1.2 tatsumi rokō
1.3 takashimaya o-hisa
1.4 Ōgiya hanaōgi
1.5 hinodeya goke
1.6 tomimoto toyohina

description , analysis

the series depicts 6 well-known beauties associated yoshiwara pleasure districts—courtesans, geisha, , like. rebus appears in corner of each print bearing title kōmei bijin rokkasen (高名美人六家撰, renowned beauties 6 best houses ) , hanji-e picture-puzzle. done in response shogunal edict of 1793 (one of kansei reforms) banned inscription of names on ukiyo-e prints. around restriction—and perhaps add pleasure of puzzle viewers solve—utamaro resorted hanji-e symbolize name of model. restrictions expanded include these measures in 1796.

in fūryū rokkasen hanji-e replaced seated figure of 1 of rokkasen 6 poetry immortals of mid-9th century. rokkasen spellt different kanji characters in 2 series; earlier parody of latter, derived original kanji characters rokkasen poets. both series published Ōmiya kenkura , signed utamaro hitsu (歌麿筆). estimated publication dates range 1794 1798.

other minor differences in printed copies exist—the print of o-kita, example, has editions , without seal saishutsu (再出, re-appearance ) on it, , there editions of both hinodeya goke , o-hisa eyebrows , eyebrows shaved off.

naniwaya o-kita

utamaro depicts popular teahouse girl o-kita of naniwaya (難波屋おきた) when 18. naniwaya teahouse near asakusa shrine. stands in modest posture offering teacup on saucer. wears ornate hairpin paulownia blossom in , clothing patterned stylized ivy, both symbols associated o-kita.

o-kita s name deciphered hanji-e follows: top bottom, 2 bunches of rapeseed (菜二把 na ni-wa; wa japanese counter word bundles), arrow (屋, ya), open sea offshore (沖, , rice paddy field (田 ta). fūryū rokkasen version matches o-kita ariwara no narihira. there different interpretations why editions bear seal saishutsu (再出, re-appearance ), such o-kita had withdrawn public , made re-appearance.

tatsumi rokō

utamaro portrays geisha rokō of tatsumi district (辰巳路考 tatsumi rokō). poses right hand placed behind right ear , cord incense pouch visible around neck.

rokō stage name of segawa kikunojō ii (ja), kabuki actor specialized in onnagata roles playing young women; popular women had rokō appended names. tatsumi means southeast , refers fukagawa area southeast of edo castle; fukagawa known yūkaku pleasure district. deduced tatsumi rokō refers popular beauty fukagawa, not clear was.

rokō s name deciphered hanji-e follows: top bottom, dragon (竜 tatsu), snake (蛇, mi on chinese zodiac), pair of rowing sculls (艪 ro), , burning incense (香 kō). in fūryū rokkasen version matched poet sōjō henjō.

takashimaya o-hisa

utamaro depicts takashimaya o-hisa (高島屋おひさ), eldest daughter of takashima chōbei, owner of roadside teahouse @ home called senbeiya in hisa worked attracting customers. @ time of publication o-hisa 19. kimono bears three-leafed daimyo oak crest, , 3 daimyo oak leaves adorns hairpin.

o-hisa s name deciphered hanji-e follows: perching falcon (鷹 taka), island (島 shima), kagaribi flare fire (火 hi, fire ), , egret (白鷺 shirasagi, sa comes 鷺 sagi, heron ). fūryū rokkasen version matches o-hisa Ōtomo no kuronushi.

Ōgiya hanaōgi

kōmei bijin rokkasen version

utamaro depicts courtesan hanaōgi of Ōgiya (扇屋花扇) composes letter, writing brush held cheek stares @ paper deep in thought. Ōgiya large, long-established shop in yoshiwara, , hanaōgi built reputation in 1780s beauty , skills in singing, playing koto, tea ceremony, chinese classics, , incense.

hanaōgi s name deciphered hanji-e follows: top bottom, hand fan (扇 ōgi), arrow (屋, ya), flowers (花 hana), , hand fan (扇 ōgi). fūryū rokkasen version matches hanaōgi ono no komachi.

hinodeya goke

the subject of print not clear. may hinodeya goke (日の出屋後家, hinodeya widow ), asahiya goke (朝日屋後家, asahiya widow ), or karasumori goke (朝日屋後家 karasumori widow ). 1 of popular beauties in edo @ time of publication.

utamaro depicts widow drying right ear cloth after having had bath. @ time, image of woman shaven eyebrows after bath considered particularly erotic. variations of eprint exist: widow has eyebrows in copy @ museum of fine arts, boston, in copy @ tokyo national museum eyebrows missing—shaving off eyebrows sign of married woman during edo period. suggested explanations include reprints appeared when widow shaved or regrew eyebrows, such explanation complicated fact print of geisha takashimaya o-hisa has variants , without eyebrows.

utamaro symbolizes name of model image in rebus in top left. rising sun may refer either hinodeya or asahiya (both asahi , hinode meaning rising sun ), or crows flying out of forst may refer karasumori shrine (ja) (鳥森 karasumori, crow forest ). go board , lock of hair (ke) combine make go-ke, homophonous goke widow . fūryū rokkasen version matches widow poet fun ya no yasuhide.

tomimoto toyohina

tomimoto toyohina (富本豊雛) geisha worked @ tamamuraya in yoshiwara. dubbed tomimoto having made name playing tomimoto-bushi music on shamisen.

toyohina s name deciphered hanji-e follows: lottery box in top right marked tomi (富 wealth or fortune ), algae (藻, mo), grinding stone (砥 to), door (戸 to), paper lantern signifying night (夜 yo), , paper hina doll (雛 hina). fūryū rokkasen version matches toyohina kisen hōshi.

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