This exhibition explores how Japan’s epic war tales were transformed into popular kabuki theater performances known as jidaimono 時代物, or “history plays,” as documented through woodblock prints from the Edo period (1603–1868) to the 20th century. These prints and books reveal how historical narratives—particularly The Tale of the Heike, The Revenge of the Soga Brothers, and The Chronicle of Yoshitsune—were adapted for the stage, creating unique artistic expressions of these historical sagas, often with many elements reimagined for dramatic effect.

Also featured are depictions of Chūshingura, or The Treasury of Loyal Retainers. This revenge story of the 47 rōnin—based on an early 18th-century incident but set in medieval times to avoid government censorship—was frequently performed alongside older military tales.

The woodblock prints showcase kabuki’s rich visual language. Elaborate sets and gorgeous costumes provided the backdrop for actors who, through intense training, mastered stylized movements and formal gestures to bring historical figures to life. For many people in Japan who lived far from urban theaters or could not afford tickets, these prints offered a rare glimpse of kabuki’s spectacular visual world while simultaneously shaping how these early modern audiences understood their history.

Related videos:

• Ukiyo-e Prints in Context
• How were ukiyo-e prints made?

Images:

Ippitsusai Bunchō 一筆斎文調 (Japanese, active 1760–1794), The Actor Ichikawa Datezo (Shikaku) as Kajiwara Genta, from A Picture Book of Fans from the Stage, 1770. Color woodblock print (surimono-e); ink and color on paper. Mary A. Ainsworth Bequest, 1950.311.

Tsuruya Kōkei 弦屋光溪 (Japanese, b. 1946), The Actor Ogami Shoroku in the Role of Kudo Suketsume in “Soga No Taimen” by Ogami Shoroku, 1989. Color woodblock print with mica background. Oberlin Friends of Art Fund, 1999.10.

Utagawa Kunisada III (Japanese, 1848–1920), Kabukisa, Sixth Month, Kyōgen, 1899. Ink on paper. Gift of Dominique H. Vasseur (OC '73) in honor of Ronald F. Patnik and Lawrence W. Rassin, 2023.60A-C.