Background
Kichi Hôgen sanryaku no maki (Kiichi Hôgen's three-volume book of tactics: 鬼一法眼三略巻) premiered as a ningyô jôruri (puppet play: 人形淨瑠璃) in 1731; kabuki followed in 1732. It recounts the earlier life of Minamoto no Yoshitsune, 1159-1189: 源義経) from his boyhood to the celebrated confrontation with Musashi-bô Benkei (武蔵坊弁慶) the warrior monk (a yamabushi, literally, mountain sleeper: 山伏). The play, derived in part from the Muromachi-period chronicle Gikeiki or Yoshitsune ki (Chronicles of Yoshitsune: 義経記), presents the young hero in disguise as Torazô, who is traveling with his retainer Kisanta, disguised as Chienai. They are on a mission to steal a book of military tactics compiled by the noted strategist Yoshioka Kiichi Hôgen allied with the enemy Heike (Taira) clan. When Hôgen's daughter Minazuru-hime falls in love with Yoshitsune, her compassionate father, whose political sympathies actually lie with the Genji (Minamoto), gives the book of tactics to Yoshitsune and then takes his own life in expiation for being disloyal to the Heike.
Design
Oniwakamaru ("Little Devil" 鬼若丸) was the childhood nickname of the twelfth-century warrior-priest Saitô Musashibô Benkei (西塔武蔵坊弁慶), who became an ally and retainer of Minamoto no Yoshitsune. One of Oniwakamaru's most famous exploits was to avenge the death of his mother by killing the giant carp who devoured her after she fell into a pool. In Sadanobu's design, however, Oniwakamaru is depicted subduing three adversaries.
References: HSH, no. 23, pp. 18 and 118
