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Description
Print no. 4 of the "24 Paragons" shows at top the story of Min Ziqian (J: Binshiken) whose stepmother preferred his stepbrothers. When his father found out, the wife was ordered out of the house, but young Min begged his father to allow her to return. Chikanobu combines this with a view from inside a Japanese house, as a mother takes two children in hand, leaving the other behind. Only by knowing the Chinese tale can the viewer guess that the stepmother is about to go out with her own children, leaving her stepson behind; while the little boy's face shows some emotion (perhaps distress), the woman's face is placid and idealized. Thus, Chikanobu again relies on the viewer's knowledge to impart a particular narrative meaning. Otherwise, it appears like the mother has carefully dressed two children for an outing (one wearing Western clothes with a tam-o'-shanter and striped socks) and is leaving the third behind for reasons of misbehavior.
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