Scene from the kabuki play, Nikki Danjo

Object Details

• Artist

  Kawanabe Kyosai 河鍋暁斎 (1831-1889)

• Description

  A scene from the Kabuki play "Meiboku Sendai Hagi," in which the character Nikki Danjo steals the scroll containing the will of the late Lord of Sendai.

• Label

  Lively sketches by the nineteenth-century artist Kawanabe Kyosai reveal the variety of traditional Chinese and Japanese legends that were popular in the Meiji era, when Japan was rapidly modernizing along Western technological models.

  In an unusual view of a kabuki stage facing the enthralled audience, an actor performs an onstage transformation from human to animal form with the aid of smoke. According to the story, in a plot to thwart the rightful heir, Nikki Danjo steals a scroll that contains the will of the daimyo who ruled Sendai. The villain attempts to escape by transforming himself into a giant rat, but he is finally captured by a warrior who throws an iron battle fan, breaking the spell.

  See also F1975.29.5 and F1975.29.8.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Tales and Legends in Japanese Art (June 21, 2003 to January 4, 2004)

  Japanese Drawings (March 16, 1984 to July 22, 1985)

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Album

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

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Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1830s, 1860s

• Name

  Kawanabe, Kyosai

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Fans, Theater, Yakusha-e, Art, Actors and actresses, Japanese Art, Meiji era (1868 - 1912)

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Albums