Kiyochika: Han Soldier Disembowelment (Kanhei no seppuku)

Artist: Kobayashi Kiyochika
Title: Han Soldier Disembowelment (Kanhei no seppuku)
Series: Long Live Japan: One Hundred Victories, One Hundred Laughs (Nihon banzai Hyakusen hyakushô)
Date: 1894

A Han soldier sits, removing his shirt and holding a kitchen cleaver instead of the short sword that would be used by a Japanese to commit seppuku. Behind him are mourning Chinese women, one with the head of a battleship and one with another military item for a head. The text may be translated as follows: Honekawa Dójin writes: When a large banquet took place,  I heard that an improvised kyogen drama  in connection with the Sino-Japan War will be performed, and I thought it would be fun. As if Japanese intense navy attack at Weihei a lot of people gathered,  and the place was packed. When the curtain was up the title of the kyogen drama was the sixth act of Chúshingura. The audience was very happy about it and fascinated. Okaru as a war ship is weeping to say farewell (meaning losing war ships) to Kampei, her lover,  a Chinese soldier as Kampei is about to do seppuku. And an old woman, Okaru´s mother as the coast battery of Liaodong Peninsular is crying since she would be left alone. What a scene of caricature!  In her striped purse five-ryó paper money for Chinese government as ransom money. So that`s the way the Imperial Japan managed to occupy there to their advantage.  

Condition: Very good impression, color and condition. Lightly backed and trimmed.
Dimensions: ôban
Publisher: Matsuki Heikichi
Signature: Kiyochika  Literature: See Henry Smith’s book, pages 94-95.

SKU: KYC380