User:ENak164/Koikawa Harumachi

Harumachi Koikawa (恋川 春町, 1744 - August 27, 1789) was a Gesaku writer and Ukiyo-e artist in the middle of the Edo period. He also composed Kyōka under the name, Sake-no-Ue-no-Furachi (酒上不埒). He learned Ukiyo-e from Sekien Toriyama, and also studied under Katsukawa Shunshō. Harumachi drew the most paintings for his works on his own. In 1775, he pioneered the new genre, later called Kibyōshi with "Kinkin- Sensei-Eiga-no-yume (金々先生栄花夢)," and is regarded as the founder of Kibyōshi. His real name is Itaru Kurahashi (倉橋格). His Imina was Katsuki (勝睴) at first, and later changed it to Kaku (格). His original surname was Genji (源氏), his childhood name was Kamenosuke (亀之助), and his common name was Hayato(隼人) at first, and later Juhei (寿平). He also goes by Juzanjin Jutei (寿山人･寿亭) and Harumachibo (春町坊). His pen name, Koikawa Harumachi, comes from Koishikawa Kasuga-cho, where the Edo domain residence was located, and also from Katsukawa Shunshō (勝川 春章), the famous Japanese painter at that time.

He was involved in the central government of the Suruga Ojima domain as Toshiyorihonyaku(senior official) of the Takiwaki Matsudaira family (滝脇松平家). His final Kokudata was 120 koku.

During the An'ei-Tenmei era, he created many Kibyōshi books that he wrote and drew by himself. Although some of his illustrations can be seen in Sharebon and Kokkeibon, his Nishiki-e are rarely found to be seen.

Life and Career
He was born in 1744 as the second son of Kuwashima Katsuyoshi(Kyuzo) (桑島勝義(九蔵)), who served for Ando Tsuguyoshi (安藤 次由), a chief retainer of the Kishu Tokugawa family. In 1763, he was summoned and became a samurai of the Ojima domain with 6 ryo and two subordinates, and also served as an apprentice for the secretary. In the same year, he was adopted by his paternal uncle Kurahashi Katsumasa (倉橋勝正), who was also a samurai who served for the Ojima clan. In 1767, he changed his common name from Hayato to Juhei.

Later, he became Onotokaku and a sword guard, and when Matsudaira Masanobu (松平昌信), the lord of the domain, died in 1771 and Matsudaira Nobunori (松平信義) became the lord of the domain, he became even more successful. In 1942, he became a commissioner and an Orusui, inherited the family estate after his adoptive father retired, and was appointed as a private servant when the kokudaka reached 100 koku. He started to participate in the central government of the domain, serving as Sobayonin (a servant and assistant to the master), as well as an official, and Toshiyorikaku-kaban-no-sou (Roju/Senior official). There is a signature found on the Ojima clan land tax allotment letter dated 1785 under the name of Kurahashi Juhei. In 1787, he was appointed to Toshiyorihonyaku with 120 kokudaka.

However, the following year, in 1789, Harumachi was summoned by Matsudaira Sadanobu because of the satirical content of the Kibyōshi book he wrote in "Oumugaeshi-bunbuno-futamichi (鸚鵡返文武二道)." He was accused of satirizing Matsudaira Sadanobu's Bunbu-shourei policy which promotes literacy and warfare. Harumachi did not appear before Sadanobu claiming he was ill, and retired of all his positions on April 24 of the same year. Shortly after, on August 27 in 1789, he died at the age of 46. Some authors speculate that he committed suicide. His grave is located at Jokakuji Temple in Shinjuku 2-chome, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, and is designated as a historic site by Shinjuku-ku.

Friends
He was especially close with Hōseidō Kisanji (朋誠堂 喜三二), a fellow Kyoka and Gesaku writer who was nearly 10 years older than him. They often worked together, and there are lots of works with Kisanji's writings and Harumachi's illustrations. Harumachi's wife of his second marriage was also introduced by Kisanji.

Works

 * 『当世風俗通』 洒落本 朋誠堂喜三二作 （1773年）
 * 『金々先生栄花夢』｛きんきんせんせいえいがのゆめ｝（1775年） 自画作
 * 『高慢斎行脚日記』｛こうまんさいあんぎゃにき｝（1776年） 自画作
 * 『鸚鵡返文武二道』｛おうむがえしぶんぶのふたみち｝（1788年）
 * 『無益委記』｛むだいき｝
 * 『詩句市窓』｛しくしそう｝
 * 『其返報怪談』
 * 「布袋川渡りの図」 細判 錦絵

Publications

 * 「金々先生栄花夢」水野稔訳『古典日本文学全集 第28 (江戸小説集 上)』筑摩書房 1960年
 * 『黄表紙集1』水野稔編 古典文庫 1969年
 * 「うどん・そば 化物大江山」「古今名筆 其返報怪談」「参幅対紫曽我」「夫八本歌是八狂哥 万載集著微来歴」「吉原大通会」「其昔竜神噂」
 * 「遺精先生夢枕」『国文学解釈と鑑賞臨時増刊　秘められた文学4』尾崎行信監修、至文堂、1970年
 * 『評釈江戸文学叢書』第8巻 講談社 1970年（1935年刊の復刻）
 * 「金々先生栄花夢」「夫ハ楠木是ハ嘘木無益委記」
 * 『日本古典文学全集　黄表紙・川柳・狂歌』小学館、1971年
 * 「金々先生栄花夢」「夫ハ楠木是ハ嘘木無益委記」「鸚鵡返文武二道」浜田義一郎校注
 * 「金々先生栄華夢」杉森久英訳『日本の古典 25 (江戸小説集 2)』河出書房新社 1974年
 * 「金々先生栄華夢」「化物大江山」『江戸の戯作絵本』第1巻 小池正胤ほか編 社会思想社・現代教養文庫 1980年
 * 「万載集著微来歴」同第2巻、1981年
 * 「悦贔屓蝦夷押領」同第3巻、1982年
 * 「高漫斉行脚日記」「参幅対紫曽我」「吉原大通会」同続第1巻、1984年
 * 「風流裸人形、大通惣本寺杜選大和尚無頼通説法」『洒落本大成』第8巻 中央公論社 1980年
 * 『新編日本古典文学全集 黄表紙・川柳・狂歌』小学館、1999年
 * 「金々先生栄花夢」「鸚鵡返文武二道」棚橋正博校注

Links

 * 蔦屋重三郎