Will the autumn basho be a duel between Hakuho and Kakuryu?
Continuing from Takebashi—under 20 minutes by subway to sumo's mecca, Eko-in in Ryogoku (Sumida 2-8-10).
Last week I wrote that kanjin sumo was held on the grounds since Edo times. Sumo makes fine pictures; ukiyo-e at its peak could not ignore such material.
Last week I showed Hiroshige's full view of Eko-in; today, indoor works—the dohyo. Top is literally "Picture of Entering the Kanjin Grand Sumo Ring." Tokyo Metropolitan Library says it depicts the winter 1849 (Kaei 2) Eko-in tournament. Ozeki Kenzan and east-side (right) rikishi have entered; west-side wrestlers mount the ring. The artist is Kuniyoshi Utagawa
(1798–1861), but many similar works exist by various artists.
Next (left): disciple of Kuniyoshi and the first Kunisada, Kunisada Utagawa (1786–1865, later Kunisada III)—Kanjin Grand Sumo Performance (1843); west-side (left) rikishi seem to have finished entering.
Another, right: second-generation Kuniteru Utagawa (1830 = Tenpo
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1–1874), pupil of Kunisada III—"Picture of Entering the Kanjin Grand Sumo Ring," 1866 (Keio 2), late Edo.
Comparing Kuniyoshi/Kunisada and Kuniteru, notice something?
Yes—the "pillars." The four posts supporting the roof: in Kuniyoshi/Kunisada all four are red-vermillion; in Kuniteru they are blue, red, white, and black.
They represent the four guardian deities: Azure Dragon, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger, Black Tortoise.
Incidentally left top is prewar old Ryogoku Kokugikan—monochrome but four colors visible. Left bottom is today's Kokugikan; since autumn 1952 at Kuramae, when the hanging roof replaced hard-to-see pillars, four-colored tassels hang instead
. East rikishi drink chikara-mizu at "red tassel"; west at "white tassel"—hence those names.
Each color guards direction and season; tied to harvest prayers since ancient times. Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki carried four-deity charms from Matsudo Shrine aboard the shuttle. Painted on Takamatsuzuka tomb murals; known from Aizu domain's by-age "Byakkotai."
Until some Edo period, were all four vermillion as Kuniyoshi drew?