Spirit of the Renegade Monk Seigen (1783) Katsukawa Shunshō
$17.99
Spirit of the Renegade Monk Seigen (1783) Katsukawa Shunshō
The "Spirit of the Renegade Monk Seigen" is a famous ukiyo-e (Japanese woodblock print) created by Katsukawa Shunshō in 1783. The artwork captures a dramatic scene from a Kabuki play and is celebrated for its early use of realistic actor portraits (yakusha-e) and macabre visual elements. [1, 2, 3]
The Subject and Narrative
The print illustrates part two of the play Edo no Hana Mimasu Soga ("Flower of Edo: An Ichikawa Saga"), specifically the jōruri segment titled Sono Omokage Matsu ni Sakura ("Vestiges of Pine and Cherry"). It features two primary characters: [1, 2, 3]
- The Monk Seigen: A holy Buddhist monk who falls deeply in love with the beautiful Princess Sakura (Cherry Princess). Because of his forbidden passion, he breaks his vows of celibacy and is expelled from the Kiyomizu Temple. Eventually reduced to absolute poverty, he is murdered in a secluded country hut. [1, 2, 3, 4]
- The Vengeful Ghost: Incapable of finding peace and blaming her for his demise, Seigen's spirit returns as a haunting ghost to plague Princess Sakura. [1, 2]
Artistic Innovation and Composition
Katsukawa Shunshō revolutionized actor prints by shifting away from generic faces to highly expressive, recognizable portraits of individual performers. In this specific piece: [1, 2, 3]
- Ichikawa Danjūrō V plays the ghostly Seigen. He is shown wearing a tight-fitting black bodysuit painted with human bones to resemble a skeleton.
- Iwai Hanshirō IV plays Princess Sakura, recoiling in terror from the apparition. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Where to View
The original print is preserved within the permanent collection at The Art Institute of Chicago
Product features
- 100% ring-spun cotton (lightweight 153 g/m²) for a soft, breathable feel
- Tubular knit (no side seams) for a clean drape and reduced fabric waste
- Durable collar with ribbed knit and shoulder tape to prevent stretching
- DTG and DTF printing methods for crisp, long-lasting artwork (sleeve/label prints via DTF)
- OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certified and ethically sourced cotton
Care instructions
- Do not dryclean
- Do not bleach
- Tumble dry: low heat
- Iron, steam or dry: low heat
- Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F), with similar colors