Chushingura Act III

Kitagawa Utamaro

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Utamaro uses the "E-kyodai" format here also to combine two scenes to humorous effect. Although both scenes in this work depict physical conflicts, they are conflicts of a radically different character. The upper cartouche contains a scene from "Chushingura," one of the most popular Kabuki plays, in which one feudal lord attacks another with a sword within the confines of Edo Castle, a grave breach of decorum that will lead to dire consequences. The conflict in the larger image, however, is merely a domestic love quarrel in which a man attempts to hit his nagging wife with a piece of kitchen equipment. In the spirit of jocular parody, Utamaro likens this petty household turmoil to the great tragic political drama "Chushingura."

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art