Background
Sugawara denju tenarai kagami (Mirror of learning & transmitting Sugawara's secrets of calligraphy: 菅原伝授手習鑑) is based on legends surrounding the life of Sugawara Michizane (845-903: 菅原道真), also known as Kan Shôjô (菅丞相). Founder of the Kanke school of calligraphy and a favorite of Emperor Daigo, Sugawara ran afoul of an envious political rival named Fujiwara no Tokihira (Fujiwara no Shihei in the play) and was exiled to Kyûshû. After Sugawara's death, plague and drought spread throughout Japan and the sons of Emperor Daigo died in succession. The Imperial Palace's Great Audience Hall was struck repeatedly by lightning, igniting fires, and Kyoto was battered by rainstorms and floods. Attributing these calamities to Sugawara's vengeful spirit, the imperial court built and dedicated to him a Shintô (神道) shrine in 986 called Kitano Tenmangu (北野天満宮) in Kyoto. The court also posthumously restored his title and office, and removed the records of his exile. Sugawara was deified as a Tenjin (Heavenly [Sky] deity: 天神), and many Shintô shrines in Japan were and continue to be dedicated to him.
This jidaimono ("period piece" or history play: 時代物) premiered in 8/1746 as a ningyô jôruri (puppet play: 人形淨瑠璃) at the Takemoto no Shibai, Osaka. It is one of the most admired of all puppet dramas, whose four authors also composed two other masterpieces in the 1740s, Kanadehon chûshingura (Writing manual for the treasury of the loyal retainers: 假名手本忠臣蔵) and Yoshitsune senbon zakura (Yoshitsune and the thousand cherry trees: 義経千本桜). In the play, Sugawara (Kan Shôjô) is a calligraphy master and Minister of the Right who shares power with Shihei, Minister of the Left. Sugawara is arrested on a trumped-up charge of plotting to overthrow the emperor and becomes the target of an assassination plot headed by Shihei. Sugawara is exiled to Kyûshû, where he dies cursing Shihei. Ultimately, the villain is slain by the calligrapher's son, Kan Shûsei, the house of Sugawara is restored, and Sugawara is pronounced a deity.
Design
Ichikawa Shikô II performs as Hangandai Terukuni (判官代輝国), an official from the court of the retired emperor who is sent to escort Sugawara (Okawa Hashizô I) into exile.
This is an impressive double portrait with the two protagonists positioned close to each other, adding to the emotional intensity of the "farewell scene" as Kan Shôjô prepares to see his family for the last time before his exile. Horizontal double okubi-e are very uncommon in Hirosada's oeuvre, making this example, with its surimono-style quality, a particularly fine specimen.
References: IKBYS-IV, no. 114; NKE, p. 615
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