Episode 299 – The Rebellion that Never Was

August 2, 2019 1 Comment

This week, we cover an obscure bit of samurai history: the Keian Incident, a planned coup against the Tokugawa Shoguns that was foiled by a lucky bit of happenstance. What can we learn from something that, in a certain sense, didn’t actually happen?

Sources

Totman, Conrad. Early Modern Japan

Nishiyama, Matsunosuke. Edo Culture: Daily Life and Diversions in Urban Japan, 1600-1868

Paramore, Kiri. Ideology and Christianity in Japan

Shirane, Haruo and Tomi Suzuki. The Cambridge History of Japanese Literature

Walthall, Anne. Peasant Uprisings in Japan

Images

A marker on the site where Yui Shosetsu’s head was put on display.
Another Keian Taiheiki print. Marubashi is at left, played by Ichikawa Sadanji the first. Shosetsu is in the middle, played by Nakamura Shikan the fourth. These two actors allow us to date this performance to either the late Edo or early Meiji Periods.
A print from Keian Taiheiki. Marubashi Chuya is at left; Yui Shosetsu is in the center.

 

 

 

1 thought on “Episode 299 – The Rebellion that Never Was”

  1. Hey Isaac, love the podcast! Your featured image here, what is this style of art called? I cannot, for the life of me, find a name for it.

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