null

Ichikawa Danko (市川団子) as the boy-emperor Antoku (人王八十一代安徳天皇) (R) and Iwai Kumesaburo II (二代目 岩井粂三郎) as Suke no Tsubone (典侍局, a noblewoman in the service of the Emperor) (L)

null
Japanese colour woodblock print showing seated man and woman by water

Ichikawa Danko (市川団子) as the boy-emperor Antoku (人王八十一代安徳天皇) (R) and Iwai Kumesaburo II (二代目 岩井粂三郎) as Suke no Tsubone (典侍局, a noblewoman in the service of the Emperor) (L)

Collection:CSM Museum & Study Collection
Date: 1829
Maker: Utagawa Kunisada (歌川国貞)
Medium: O-ban Nishiki-e (大判錦絵, large-format coloured print)
Object number: O.3.2
DescriptionThis print is from 'Ryuko Yakusha Suikoden Goketsu Hyakuichi nin no Hitori (流行役者水滸伝豪傑百八人一個,' Popular Actors as the 108 Heroes of the Water Margin)' series.

It was produced in response to the popularity of Suikoden (水滸伝, Water Margin) due to the huge success of Utagawa Kuniyoshi (歌川国芳)'s 'Tsuzoku Suikoden Goukouketsu Hyakuhachi nin no Hitori (The 108 Heroes of the Popular Suikoden)'. This scene is based on the historical event at the end of the Genpei War (a conflict between the Taira and Minamoto clans in late-Heian period), when the defeat of the Taira Clan becomes so deep that they attempt to commit suicide by drowning themselves with the child Emperor Antoku as their companion in a battle of Dannoura (壇ノ浦の戦い) in 1885.