前回、このWORKS GALLERYにて紹介した“鬼若丸の鯉退治”と同じく巨鯉にしがみ付く人物像をモチーフとした作品であるが、こちらは水滸伝に登場する豪傑のひとりである阮小五で、渾名を短命二郎という。
町田彫剣氏らしい細やかでありながらも力強い見切りの中に、主題が生き生きと躍動する様が描かれている。短命二郎の身体を彩る鮮やかな菊水の二重彫りも見る者の目を楽しませる。なお現在、甲羅彫りから鯉尽くしの九分袖胸割りへと延長中だ。
Like Oniwakamaru which was introduced at the last time of Works Gallery content, this work is besed on the motif of a figure grapping a giant carp. This is Gen Shogo, one of the great heroes of “Suikoden”, and his nickname is Tanmei Jiro.
The lively and dynamic subject matter is depicted among a delicate and also powerful gaku (background) which is Machida Horiken’s specialty. The vivid niju-bori (irezumi in an irezumi) of chrysanthemums that adorn the body of Tanmei Jiro delights the eyes of the onlooker. This work is currently undergoing an extension from kora-bori (carapace style) to munewari (bodysuit with the opening on the front panel) with full sleeves.
短命二郎は漁師を生業とする阮三兄弟の次男に当たり、血気盛んな性格で博打や喧嘩に明け暮れていたため「関わると命を縮める」とのことからこの渾名が付いた。
自らの力を振るい世のために活躍したいという大望を抱いていた短命二郎は、百八の英傑が集まる梁山泊に身を寄せると水軍を率いて腐敗した権力を打倒し、国を救うため己の命が尽きるまで戦った。
Tanmei Jiro was the second of the three Gen brothers who were fishermen by trade, and was a hot-blooded character who spent most of his time gambling and fighting, so he was given that nickname because people said “If you get involved with him, you will lose your life”. Tanmei means short-lived, and Jiro means the second brother.
With a great ambition to wield his power for the world, Tanmei Jiro took a part of Ryozanpaku where 108 heroes had gathered, and led a navy to overthrow the corrupt authorities and fought until his last breath to save his country.
