大きく渦を巻く風と雲を背景に、どっしりと岩に足を着き金棒を振りかぶる魯智深を描いた、実に力感に溢れる芳柳氏による背面額彫り。小細工を弄することのない実直な作風に宿る豪壮さが、氏の本領であると言えるだろう。極めて古典的であるが、スジやボカシの確かさや構図の正確さからは現代の彫り物たる洗練も感じさせる。
なお、両腕は他店の仕事となる。
This powerful back piece done by Houryu depicts Rochishin firmly standing on a rock and swinging his cudgel with a background of dynamically swirling wind and clouds. It can be said that his strength lies in the grandeur of his straightforward style without any tricks. Although it is extremely classical, the certainty of the lines and shade and the accuracy of the composition give it the sophistication of a modern horimono.
Note that both sleeves are done by another artist.
魯智深は『水滸伝』に登場する豪傑のひとりで、筋骨隆々たる巨躯と類まれな怪力の持ち主。仏門に入っていたこと、また全身に刺青を纏っていたことから“花和尚”の渾名で呼ばれる。
非情な性格の登場人物が多い同書においても弱きを助け強きを挫く好漢として描かれており、義侠心を重んじる江戸の民衆たちから厚い支持を得た。そのため、彫り物の題材として今もなお人気を博している。
Rochishin is one of the great heroes in “Suikoden”, with a huge muscular frame and exceptional strength. He was a Buddhist monk and had tattoos all over his body, which earned him the nickname “Kaosho” (flower monk).
Many of the characters in the book are ruthless, however Rochishin is portrayed as a good man who helps the weak and discourages the strong, so that he became popular among the people of Edo who valued chivalry. For this reason, he is still common as a subject for horimono.
