伝統彫り物の本道を勇往邁進する芳柳氏が、既存の浮世絵に範を取らず自身の解釈で新たに描き起こした侠客を主題とした背中額彫りである。大胆にデフォルメし、力強い描線と簡素な彩色とすることで遠目にも迫力を持たせる手法は紛うことなき古典の系譜だ。
桜の枝を背に、討ち取ったのであろうか鬼の首にどっかりと腰掛け、杯を傾ける侠客の姿には物語性すら感じさせる。芳柳氏の柔軟な発想力が垣間見られる力作である。
A back piece of kyokaku (chivalrous man) which is newly created without taking a model from existing ukiyo-e by Houryu, who is pushing forward the main path of traditional Japanese tattoo. The bold deformations, strong lines, and simple color make the work look powerful even from a distance, which is an unmistakable lineage of the classics.
The image of the kyokaku sits on the head of oni (Japanese demon) which he may have defeated with his back to cherry blossoms and has a cup of sake even evokes some story. This is a great work that shows a glimpse of Houryu’s flexible imagination.
侠客とは自己犠牲をものともせず、弱きを助け強きを挫く義侠心を持った者を指す言葉である。こうした気質を任侠と呼ぶがその本分は武士道と同列であり、武士に宿れば武士道、町人に顕れれば任侠であると考えられる。その職業を問わず、権力や体制を相手に一歩も引かない者たちを表す美称であった。
なお、ここに見られる三匹の蛙は“さんかえる”転じて“さかえる”ということで、繁栄や繁盛の縁起を担ぐ古くからの言葉遊びだ。
The term kyokaku refers to those who are willing to sacrifice themselves and have a chivalrous spirit to help the weak and frustrate the strong. The temperament of this kind of chivalry is called ninkyo and its essence is considered to be same as bushi-do. When it resided in samurai it’s bushi-do and when it appeared in townspeople it’s ninkyo. It was a term of endearment for townspeople who would not yield an inch against power and the establishment, regardless of their profession.
As a side note, a group of three frogs is a word play from long ago which is a good omen for prosperity.
