Background
The play Ehon Tengajayamura (Picture book of the gathering at Tengajaya: 絵本殿下茶屋聚) is a variant of Katakiuchi Tengajayamura (Revenge at Tengajayamura, 1781), a very popular drama in Osaka. It was based on events from 1609 when the samurai Hayashi Genzaburô (renamed Hayase Genjirô in the play) took revenge upon the murderer (Tôma Saburôemon) of his father (renamed Hayase Genba) and elder brother (renamed Hayase Iori) in Tengajaya village near Osaka. The main plot of this adapted jidaimono ("period piece" or history play: 時代物) is a good example of a standard adauchi mono (revenge tale: 仇打ち物) that has been perennially popular in kabuki and bunraku (puppet theater: 文楽).
Design
Hayase Iori is depicted in a standard kata ("form" or pose: 型), gripping a closed ôgi (folding fan: 扇) between his teeth and with his fists clenched in what appears to be the moment before a confrontation, possibly with Tôma Saburôemon.
The colors are very well preserved in this example, with a vivd red and strong purple.
References: IBKYS-II, no. 290; KNP-6, p. 254; IKB-1, p. 98, no. 2-426; Brandon & Leiter, Kabuki Plays on Stage (vol. 2), pp. 134-170
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