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Subject:Kyosai scroll
Posted By: Michael Wed, Mar 10, 2021 IP: 92.19.207.52

Hi,
Help required on a scroll I am attributing to Kyosai.
I believe the signature reads Kawanabe Kyosai with seal "seisei"? I do not know what is written to the right of this?
Help appreciated.
Best
Michael



Subject:Re: Kyosai scroll
Posted By: peter Thu, Mar 11, 2021

dear michael,
this january thread might be of interest as your painting also shows an rather interesting seal:
http://asianart.com/phpforum/index.php?method=detailAll&Id=132797#132876
i would need to see the painting to form an opinion though.
peter

Subject:Re: Kyosai scroll
Posted By: Michael Sat, Mar 13, 2021

Full scroll



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Subject:Re: Kyosai scroll
Posted By: peter Sun, Mar 14, 2021

the painting, certainly by kyousai, seems to be a reaction/ caricature about the political developements of the time. a month earlier Ookuma had come up with a first draft for a constitution and the freedom and people's rights movement was on the rise. a better interpretation requires to understand the lower part fully. seems a traditionalist is throwing salt at a demon, a useless task. Maybe its possibe to even identify a certain person in this figure. Any ideas about this?
peter

Subject:Re: Kyosai scroll
Posted By: I.Nagy Mon, Mar 15, 2021

No doubt this is a satirical caricature.
On the upper part of the scroll we can see two corrupted Shinto priests (Kannushis) with a Miko-san (shrine maiden) in a bacchanalian revelry. The hoisted Japanese flag seeks to highlight the state-privileged position of Shinto religion in the Meiji era.
On the lower part the most famous tradition of Setsubun (The day before the beginning of spring -
Lunar New Year - around February 3rd) the "mame-maki" or "bean scattering" - casting out all the evil of the previous year and driving away the demons in the new year - ceremony is pictured.
In Shrinto shrines the Kannushsi (priests) are performing this ceremony while shouting "Oni wa soto ! Fuku wa uchi!" (Devils out! Fortune in!"

With regards,
I.Nagy

Subject:Re: Kyosai scroll
Posted By: peter Mon, Mar 15, 2021

dear nagy,
thank you for your input, clearing things up finally.
peter

Subject:Re: Kyosai scroll
Posted By: mikeoz Thu, Mar 11, 2021

Hi Michael,

Looks like that might be an interesting scroll. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see it.

Subject:Re: Kyosai scroll
Posted By: I.Nagy Fri, Mar 12, 2021

The right side reads,
明治十四巳其四月 - Meiji jūshi, mi, sono shigatsu -
In the 14th - Snake - Year of Meiji (1881) and its
4th Month (April)

With regards,
I.Nagy

Subject:Re: Kyosai scroll
Posted By: Michael Sat, Mar 13, 2021

Many thanks to you Mr Nagy for the translation.
Best
Michael

Subject:Re: Kyosai scroll
Posted By: Guy Fri, Mar 12, 2021

The signature reads 惺々暁斎 ('Seisei Kyôsai', sometimes also read as 'Shôjô Kyôsai'), sealed 惺二 (Shôni?). At the right of the signature is a date which I could not read.

Guy.

Subject:Re: Kyosai scroll
Posted By: I.Nagy Sat, Mar 13, 2021

惺ニ reads Seisei
The "ニ" beneath of characters in seals is the sign of repetition = "々"

悪しからず、
I.Nagy

Subject:Re: Kyosai scroll
Posted By: peter Sat, Mar 13, 2021

hi guy,
your reading of the seal is not wrong. but in seal script to avoid the carving of a simular character twice, two small strokes would replace the second character. to make this clearer often these would be smaller and placed to the right. in the charcter 二 the two strokes would also in seal script be of slightly different length, that is often ignored in seal carving though. As we know the name is 惺々, the seal is certainly meaning this as well. the placeholder 々 is replaced in the seal with the two short vertical strokes according to the old tradition used already in very early stone inscriptions. For the balance of the seal here they are centered. im pretty sure most chinese and japanese would read the seal like you did. Its the same with the date. one can not really read 明治 here but its the ony thing what it could be, with the rest behind it. peter ps: already with the very few details we can spot in the photo this should be a good painting

Subject:Re: Kyosai scroll
Posted By: Michael Sat, Mar 13, 2021

Guy,
I took the seal info from Timothy Clark's book on Kyosai. Don't know if you agree. The book page shows a facsimile of seals with Kyosai's signature.
The seal on my scroll matches exactly in size.
Best
michael



Subject:Re: Kyosai scroll
Posted By: Guy Sat, Mar 13, 2021

Yes the seal reads 'Seisei'. It's clear to me know.

Thank you all for the clarification.

Guy.


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