Shiragi Saburo Playing a Reed Pipe, 1897 - Intriguing scene of Shiragi Saburo (Minamoto no Yoshimitsu) at Mt. Ashigara playing a reed pipe called a sho. The young man before him is Toyohara Tokiaki, the son of the master sho player who had taught Yoshimitsu how to play the instrument. Tokiaki had followed Yoshimitsu as he left to go into battle, wanting to join him. Instead, Yoshimitsu invited him to sit down and listen as he played a beautiful song that his father had taught him, to urge him to remain at court at carry on his father's musical legacy. Tokiaki bows his head low as he listens, leaning on a folding fan. Yoshimitsu wears a fine suit of armor, a sword in a tiger skin sheath at his side and a fur-covered quiver of arrows at his back. A few misty clouds drift before a softly glowing full moon, and a pine tree frames a view of distant mountains in silhouette. A quietly moving image, beautifully detailed with fine line work and burnishing on the black caps.

Artist - Chikanobu (1838 - 1912)

Image Size - 13 1/2" x 28 1/8" + left margin as shown

Condition - With nice color and detail as shown. Three attached panels. Paper remnant on reverse at side from previous mounting. A few small tears and slight thinning at edges, a few holes, repaired. Rippling and creasing, a few stains. Please note, due to the size, this print may be shipped rolled. Please see photos for details.