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Yoshitoshi

One hundred aspects of the moon 20 Aug – 20 Nov 2016

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Yasuko Myer Bequest Fund 2012
The moon of the moor - Yasumasa, May 1888

Fujiwara no Yasumasa (958–1036) was a courtier and famous musician in the Heian court. The legend recounts that Yasumasa had a brother known as Hakamadare Yasusake, who was an outlaw. One evening under the full moon, Yasumasa was walking through the moors and playing his flute when Hakamadare, in need of new clothes, crept behind Yasumasa, intent to kill him for his robes. But Hakamadare became mesmerised by the music he heard from the flute so continued to follow him home. Yasumasa finally noticed who was behind him; he gave Hakamadare the robes and sent him away, saying words to the effect: ‘Next time, ask.’

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Theatre and plays

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Yasuko Myer Bequest Fund 2012
Dawn moon and tumbling snow - Kobayashi Heihachirō, 1889

In the final act of the famous kabuki play Kanadehon Chūshingura (‘The treasury of loyal retainers’), the 47 rōnin (masterless samurai) attacked the mansion of the villain Moronao to avenge their lord on a snowy moonlit night. In this print, Yoshitoshi chose to illustrate this famous event from an unusual angle, focusing on Kobayashi Heihachirō, Moronao’s retainer, instead of showing one of the rōnin who are actually the heroes of the story. Faithful to the story, Heihachirō is shown here wearing his old nurse’s robe, as he attempted to catch the attackers off guard. Heihachirō defended his lord with great courage, but was killed.

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