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Description
The Battles of Coxinga/ Kokusenya kassen is based on the true adventures of Coxinga/ Watonai, a warrior of Chinese and Japanese parentage, who fought for the restoration of the Ming Chinese government after its defeat in the 17th c. by Manchu invaders. In the kabuki play Watonai joined forces with Kinshojo, his Chinese step-sister, and Kanki, her husband. Chikanobu's print shows Ichikawa Sadanji I (1842-1904) playing the lead role, flanked by Bando Kakitsu I (1847-1893) in the female role and Nakamura Shikan IV (1830-1899) as Kanki. The colorful Chinese-style costumes, exotic settings in China, and dramatic "rough style"/ aragoto acting associated with Watonai made this a popular production. Scripps College has three prints by other artists depict the same characters in earlier productions. The print depicting Watonai on a bridge is by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861), and probably shows Ichikawa Danjuro VII (1791-1859) about 1847-48. (93.3.142) As in the Chikanobu print, Watonai has loosened his outer jacket decorated with twisted rope designs to reveal a metal studded shirt that is typically worn by warriors. The two prints depicting Kinshojo and Kanki are by Toyohara Kunichika (1835-1900) from about 1875, with inset street scenes of Tokyo by Hiroshige III. (93.6.131-132) The role of Kinshojo was played by Bando Hikosaburo V (1832-1877) when he was at the peak of his career; Hikosaburo was the brother-in-law of Bando Kakitsu I, who evidently took over this onnagata part when Hikosaburo died unexpectedly. As in the Chikanobu triptych, Kunichika shows Nakamura Shikan IV in the role of Kanki. An on-stage rivalry between Shikan and Hikosaburo reportedly lead to shouting matches and fist-fights among their ardent supporters. Kunichika's depictions of Kinshojo and Kanki are joined with urban scenes signed "Hiroshige." These appear to be in the Yokohama-e style of Hiroshige III (1843-1894) and show the changes taking place in Tokyo. The street scene includes both traditional wooden shop buildings and new "fireproof" stores in the Western style, along with a rickshaw (a new form of transportation). The canal scene shows a lotus-filled moat in the Yotsuya area west of the old Edo Castle walls.
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