Spirit of Sakura Sogoro haunting Hotta Kozuke

Utagawa Kuniyoshi, artist

1797–1861

Hayashiiya Shogoro, publisher

Spirit of Sakura Sogoro haunting Hotta Kozuke, circa 1850, Edo period (1600–1868)

Where object was made: Japan

Material/technique: color woodcut

Dimensions:
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 374.7 x 250.8 mm
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 14 3/4 x 9 7/8 in
Frame Dimensions (Height x Width x Depth): 20 1/4 x 36 1/4 x 1 in
Weight (Weight): 7 lbs

Credit line: Gift of H. Lee Turner

Accession number: 1968.0001.006.a,b,c

Not on display

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Label texts

Exhibition Label:
"The Art of Stories Told," Jun-2004, Veronica de Jong
Depicted here is a scene from a ghost story, Sakura Gimeiden, which was made into a popular kabuki play. The villain of the story Hotta Kozuke over taxed his subjects, and when they complained to the central government Hotta crucified the spokesperson Sakura Sogoro and his wife, beheading them in front of their three sons. Illustrated here is the ghost of Sakura exacting revenge on the heartless Hotta. Sakura is shown three times moving about the room as Hotta struggles with wriggling snakes that attack him from all sides. Kuniyoshi, the print designer, emphasized Hotta’s terrified state by depicting the six female attendants as demons, a feature not spoken of in the story or play.

Archive Label date unknown:
Kuniyoshi designed a triptych depicting the vengeful ghosts of Sakura Sogoro and his wife wreaking havoc on their murderer's household. Here the artist shows the entire scene from the stage. The appearance of more than one Sogoro reflects the tradition of showing the same figure several times to depict the narrative, evoking the omnipresence of Sogoro's spirit. Blood, flames, and snakes add to the harrowing drama.