As tobosaku dances in his voluminous court robes, the chorus in this play relates an ancient chinese legend. When the queen mother of the west visited the court of emperor wu ti, she brought ten peaches, each of which would bring three thousand years of life to the eater. Tobosaku (tung fang-so in chinese) stole three peaches and ate them, thus attaining virtual immortality. The actor playing tobosaku wears the mask of a happy old man. At left is a hanging scroll depicting a descending phoenix-an emblem of imperial authority as well as a vehicle for immortals. Date: 1899 (Meiji). Place of creation: Tokyo, Japan. Dimensions: height: 25 cm (9.8 in); width: 37.2 cm (14.6 in). Medium: pigments on mulberry paper. Collection: Walters Art Museum. Matsuke Heikichi - Nogaku zue - Walters 95255
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