Illustration from Jiraiya gōketsu monogatari (“Tale of Jiraya the Hero”)

Artist Utagawa Toyokuni III (Japanese, 1786 - 1864)

DateEdo period (1603-1868), between Tenpō 10 and Kaei 7 [1839 - 1854]

PeriodEdo Period

Place MadeJapan, Asia

MediumWoodblock print; ink and color on paper

Dimensions19 x 24.6 cm (7 1/2 x 9 11/16 in.)

Credit LineGift of Dr. & Mrs. Horace Burr

Object number78.1.129

On View

Not on view

InscribedTitle (red cartouche R): 一名青砥物語 Ichimei Aoto Monogatari (“Alias: The Tale of Aoto”) Publisher seal (white cartouche R): Kansendō shi 甘泉堂梓 [active c.1841 - c.1865], operated by Azusa Kansendo Author’s name (blue cartouche L): Ryūkatei Tanekazu saku 柳下亭種員作 (“Written by Ryūkatei Tanekazu”) Artist’s name (red cartouche L): Hyōdai 表題 (“Title”) Toyokuni ga 豊國画 (“drawn by Toyokuni”) Directional (small red cartouche lower R): 上冊 Jōsatsu “Upper Volume” Directional (small red cartouche lower L): 下冊 Shita-satsu “Lower Volume”

Label TextThe Japanese folk tale Katakiuchi Kidan Jiraiya Monogatari 報仇奇談自来也説話 "The Tale of the Gallant Jiraiya") was first published as a yomihon that was published in 1806–1807. Jiraiya Goketsu Monogatari 児雷也豪傑物語 (“The Heroic Tales of Jiraiya” or “Tale of the Gallant Jiraiya”) was first published in 1839. Over the next 29 years (till 1868), it became a popular series of 43 illustrated novels (kusazoshi) completed by 4 different authors (Mizugaki Egao 美図垣笑顔 (1789-1846), Keisai Eisen 渓斎英泉 (1790-1848), Ryūkatei Tanekazu 柳下亭種員 (1807-1858) and Ryūsuitei Tanekiyo 柳水亭種清 (1821-1907). After the series was completed, part of the story was adapted for the kabuki theatre in 1852. Plot: Jiraiya Goketsu Monogatari begins with an evil giant snake spirit preying on humans and vying to take over Japan. To achieve this, it needs to control the Tsukikage clan, one of three clans presiding over the Echigo province, along with the Ogata and Matsuura clans. One day, Lord Tsukikage is attacked by the snake spirit but is saved by a child named Orochimaru. Grateful, Lord Tsukikage adopts the boy as his son. Unbeknownst to the Lord, Orochimaru was already possessed by the snake spirit, who'd orchestrated the whole farce, to begin with. The snake eventually manipulated the lord into murdering all of his other children, leaving Orochimaru as his sole successor. Through Tsukikage, who was also a feudal regent, Orochimaru eventually gains control of the government. With this power, the snake sought two powerful seals that were each under the protection of the Ogata and Matsuura clans. These seals marked documents that showed the feudal government's support to mobilize the military. By manipulating the lord into convincing the government that their allies were staging a coup, the snake manages to trick the two clans into giving up their seals before wiping them out and throwing the successors of the clans, Jiraiya and Tsunade, off a cliff. Thankfully, a hermit named Senso Dojin saves them, raises them and trains the pair to avenge their clans. Jiraiya learns toad shapeshifting magic and Tsunade learns slug magic, but their newfound power only resulted in a three-way deadlock. Snake magic could surpass toad magic, toad magic surpasses slug magic and slug magic could defeat snake magic. Jiraiya and Tsunade would need a special sword called the Nakirimaru, or "wave cutting sword," to defeat Orochimaru. After finding the sword, Jiraiya and Tsunade corner Orochimaru and exorcise the snake demon from him. Together, they reinstate the Ogata and Matsura clans and pardon Orochimaru for his crimes -- at Jiraya's request. Following this, Jiraiya and Tsunade are married and everyone lives happily ever after.

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