Number
#20

Date
02/1886

Title (Kanji)

Title (Rōmaji)

Description
Minamoto no Hiromasa (918-980 AD, Hakugu Sammi) was an accomplished musician, proficient in hichiriki, koto, biwa, and flute. He was said to have studied flute under Semimaru. In this image, Hiromasa (back to the viewer) plays a duet with a foreigner under the Suzakumon gate of the imperial palace in Kyoto. In the Noh play, Suzaku Gate, Hiromasa plays a duet with a mysterious figure. The stranger plays wonderfully, and the two exchange instruments. According to legend, this may be where Hiromasa acquires the famous flute, Ha – futatsu. This may be the scene depicted here.

Additional information

Year Published

1886

Size

Ōban

Signed

Yoshitoshi, Yoshitoshi giga

Seals

Taiso, Yoshitoshi, Yoshitoshi no in

Subjects

Battles, Men, Moon, Theater/Noh/Kabuki

Editions

First

Publisher

Akiyama Buemon

Block Carvers

Esen, Naoyama, Nigouchi Enkatsu, Unknown, Yamamoto, Yoshihisa