The Actor Segawa Kichiji as a Daimyo's Young Son, and Sanogawa Ichimatsu as a Samurai Attendant 1740 - 1760

Ishikawa Toyonobu crafted this woodblock print, now at the Metropolitan Museum, capturing actors in character. Note the samurai attendant's checkered pattern on his robe. This motif, seen across cultures in varied forms, echoes the duality of life and death. The samurai is also brandishing a sword. The sword, a symbol of honor and power, extends beyond mere defense. Think of the sword as a motif of masculine identity and potency, appearing in countless Renaissance paintings. The sword is not just a tool; it represents control and authority. The Kabuki theatre plays into collective memories and archetypes, stirring deep, often subconscious feelings. Emotions are not merely felt, but experienced as echoes of human experiences. These symbols resonate with a visceral force, passed through generations, continuously molded by the human psyche.