Editing Utamaro (section)

====Arrest of 1804====

The {{Interlanguage link|Ehon Taikōki|ja|絵本太閤記|lt=''Ehon Taikōki''}},{{efn|{{lang|ja|絵本太閤記}} ''{{Transliteration|ja|Ehon Taikōki}}'', "Illustrated Chronicles of the Regent"; seven parts in eighty-four volumes; text by Takeuchi Kakusai, based on an early ''Taikōki'' by Ose Hoan; illustrations by Okada Gyokuzan{{sfn|Davis|2007|pp=281–282}} }} published from 1797 to 1802, detailed the life of the 16th-century military ruler, [[Toyotomi Hideyoshi]].  The work was widely adapted, such as for [[kabuki]] and [[bunraku]] theatre.  When artists and writers put out prints and books based on the ''Ehon Taikōki'' in the disparaged ''ukiyo-e'' style, it attracted reprisals from the government.  In probably the most famous case of censorship of the Edo period,{{sfn|Davis|2007|pp=281–282}} Utamaro was imprisoned in 1804,{{efn|23 June 1804, according to [[Ōta Nanpo]]'s diary{{sfn|Davis|2007|p=290}} }} after which he was manacled along with Tsukimaro, Toyokuni, [[Shuntei]], [[Katsukawa Shun'ei|Shun'ei]], and [[Jippensha Ikku]] for fifty days and their publishers subjected to heavy fines.{{sfn|Davis|2007|p=292}}

Government documents of the case are no longer extant, and there are few other documents relating to the incident.  It appears that Utamaro was most prominent of the group.  The artists might have offended the authorities by identifying the historical figures by name and with their identifying crests and other symbols, which was prohibited, and by depicting Hideyoshi with prostitutes{{efn|{{lang|ja|遊女}} ''yūjo''}} of the pleasure quarters.{{sfn|Davis|2007|pp=289–291}}  Utamaro's censored prints include one of the ''[[daimyō]]'' [[Katō Kiyomasa]] lustily gazing at a Korean dancer at a party,{{sfn|Davis|2007|p=304}} another of Hideyoshi holding the hand of his page [[Ishida Mitsunari]] in a sexually suggestive manner,{{sfn|Davis|2007|p=305}} and another of Hideyoshi with his five consorts viewing the cherry blossoms at the temple [[Daigo-ji]] in Kyoto, a historical event famous for displaying Hideyoshi's extravagance.  This last displays the names of each consort while placing them in the typical poses of courtesans at a Yoshiwara party.{{sfn|Davis|2007|pp=306–308}}

<gallery mode="packed" heights="230px" caption="Utamaro prints censored in 1804">
Utamaro (c. 1802–04) Katō Kiyomasa.jpg|[[Katō Kiyomasa]] at a party with Korean dancers
Utamaro (c. 1802–04) Taikō gosai rakutō yūzan no zu.jpg|''Hideyoshi and his Five Wives Viewing the Cherry-blossoms at Higashiyama''
</gallery>