Background
Hade or Hana kurabe Ise monogatari ([花]競伊勢物語) (Colorful Rivalry, Tales of Ise 競伊勢物語), written by Nagawa Kamesuke I (奈河龜祐), premiered in 4/1775 in Osaka at the Naka Theater. The seven-act drama was based on the rivalry between two imperial princes, Koretaka (惟喬親王; 844–897) and Korehito (惟仁親王 850-881; later Emperor Seiwa 清和天皇), the first and fourth sons, respectively, of the Emperor Montoku (文徳天皇 827-858). The play was also linked to the famous Ise monogatari (Tales of Ise 伊勢物語), an anonymous tenth-century collection of 143 very brief episodes serving as fictional headnotes to 209 poems. Beyond these influences, there were two Chikamatsu Monzaemon (近松門左衛門 1653-1725) dramas, "Koretaka Korehito Kurai Arasoi" and "Izutsu Narihira Kawachi Gayoi," which were also influential in the creation of Hade Kurabe Ise Monogatari.
Prince Koretaka was a historical figure, the eldest son of the Emperor Montoku, whose accession to the throne was foiled by guardians of his brother Prince Korehito. Koretaka abandoned his right to rule and took a monk's vows. Kabuki, however, transformed Koretaka into a villainous imperial prince (shinnô 親王) engaged in a relentless quest to capture the throne.
Another historical figure in the play is Ki no Aritsune (紀有常), here portrayed on the right sheet. He was the biological father of Kasuga no Shinobu (left sheet) and a high official at the Imperial Court. Seventeen years earlier, he had fallen out of favor with the imperial court, and when his wife died, he gave up Shinobu for adoption by his former neighbor, Koyoshi. In the present day, complicated intrigues eventually force Aritsune to sacrifice his daughter in place of Izutsu, Chief Priestess of the Grand Shrine of Ise.
Design:
Ashiyuki's diptych depicts Ki no Aritsune confronting his daughter Kasugano Shinobu in Act VI, the so-called "Koyoshi's House in Kasuga Village." Shinobu, who is kneeling near a water well, is dressed in a beautiful court robe that Aritsune has brought with him for her to wear. He helps her dress her hair, but then he draws his sword and tells the frightened Shinobu that she must be sacrificed in place of Izutsu.
The robes of father and daughter feature elegant patterns, Aritsune's with leaping carp and Shinobu's with maple leaves and ginkgo.
Our impression is very good with bright colors. The sheets are large, and, in fact, the left sheet still retains a sizable upper margin. Also note that the keyblock for the left sheet was taller than the blue, yellow, and red color blocks, which do not cover the entirety of the keyblock at the top. This sort of "mismatch" is common in ukiyo-e, but is nearly always visible only on untrimmed sheets.
References: KNZ, no. 288
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