Chikanobu: Kusunoki Masatsura and Ghost (Sold)

Artist: Yōshū Chikanobu
Title: Kusunoki Masatsura and Ghost
Series: Competition of Day and Night on Eastern Brocade (Azuma nishiki chûya kurabe)
Date: 1886/01 (Meiji 19)

The following story is told in the upper cartouche regarding the print design. Kusunoki Masatsura (1326-1348): We say: Genius shows itself even in childhood (sendan was futaba yori kanbashiya). From his young age Kusunoki Masatsura was distinguished from others and was gentle, quiet and intelligent. One night he was reading and saw a large strange shadow in the garden. The young men in neighborhood were terrified, and the outside became turbulant. Masatsura however was not moved but simply took his sword and jumped out to the garden. He attacked and killed the strange creature at a single stroke of his sword. This creature was a hundreds-year-old raccoon. At that time people did not notice Masatsura’s distinguished attitude at his early age. At the age of eleven at Sakurai Station, his father, Kusunoki Masashige (1294-1336) handed over his will to his son Masatsura before Masashige fought the battle against Ashikaga-no-Takauji. After his father’s death in 1339, Masatsura succeeded his father as a loyal retainer. They are known as two generations of extraordinary loyal retainers.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition.
Dimensions: ôban
Publisher: Kobayashi Tetsujiro
Signature: Yôshû Chikanobu hitsu with his toshidama seal in red.

SKU: CHK070