Illustrated Abridged Biography of Kôsô
(Kôsô go-ichidai ryaku zu,
高祖御一代略図)
Publisher: Ise-ya Rihei
1835-1836
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Nichiren, also known as Kôsô, was a Buddhist priest who lived from 1222 to 1282. He has had various miracles attributed to him and founded the Nichiren sect of Buddhism, of which Kuniyoshi was an adherent. The prints in this series are each about 10 by 14 inches (25 by 36 centimeters), a size known as ôban. |
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Title: Nichiren converting the spirit of a cormorant fisherman
on the Scene: Nichiren, seated on a rocky shore, is praying for the
repose of the soul of a cormorant fisherman in a boat below Robinson: S6.1 Schaap: 17.1 |
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Title: Komatsu Moor
in Tôjô on Scene: Nichiren using the power of his prayer beads to foil an
attack by Tôjô no Sayemon
Komatsubara in 1264 Robinson: S6.2 Schaap: 17.2 |
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Title: The star of
wisdom descends on the thirteenth night of the ninth month (Kugatsu jusan yoru i chiboshikou,
九月十三夜依智星降) Scene: An apparition
of Buddha appears to Nichiren in an old plum tree Robinson: S6.3 Schaap: 17.3 |
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Title: The prayer
for rain on the promontory of Reisan in Scene: On a
promontory over the ocean, an attendant is holding an umbrella over Nichiren after his prayer for rain was answered Robinson: S6.4 Schaap: 17.4 |
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This is from a set reproduced in the 1930s by Robert O. Muller
from newly cut woodblocks. The text in
the right margin has been removed. |
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Title: At Komuroyama on July 4, 1274 (Bun’ei juichi go gatsu nijuhachi nichi Komuroyama chushi ishi, 小村山法輪石) Scene: Nichiren keeping a rock thrown at him suspended in the
air Robinson: S6.5 Schaap: 17.5 |
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Another state of the above design |
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Title: Apparition of
the seven-faced god at Minobu Mountain in September
of 1277 (Kenji sannen
kugatsu Minobuzan shichimen kami jigen, 健治三年九月見延山七面神示現) Scene: While Nichiren was conducting services, a dragon in a dark
cloud emerged from the body of a woman who had disturbed his devotions. Robinson: S6.6 Schaap: 17.6 NOTE: Robinson
translates the title of this print as “Apparition of the seven-faced god at |
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Title: The defeat of
Mongol army in 1281 as prophesied by Nichiren (Koan yonnen kojo rieki mo,
弘安四年上人利益蒙虎軍敗北) Scene: Ships of the
invading Mongolian army were battered by a severe storm, and the survivors
were easily vanquished by the Japanese soldiers. Robinson: S6.7 Schaap: 17.7 |
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Another state of the above design |
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Yet another state |
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Title: At Execution Ground of Tatsunokuchi in Sagami Province (相州竜の口) Scene: Nichiren’s life is miraculously saved when rays emanating
from the sun shatter the sword of his would be executioner. Robinson: S6.8 Schaap: 17.8 |
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Title: On the waves
at Kakuda on the way to Sado
(Sashu ryukei Kakuda nami o me, 佐州流刑角田波) Scene: Nichiren calming a rough sea with a prayer on his way to
exile in Sado Robinson: S6.9 Schaap: 17.9 NOTE: The Lotus
Sutra (namu myôhô renge kyô) can be seen in
black script on the surface of the water. |
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This is another edition of the above print. |
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Title: Tsukahara in Sado Province in the Snow (Sashu Tsukahara setchu, 佐州塚原雪中) Scene: Nichiren traveling in the snow at Tsukahara on Sado Island where he was exiled Robinson: S6.10 Schaap: 17.10 |
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This is the second state of the above design, which is one of
Kuniyoshi’s most famous. It lacks the
horizontal line that demarcates the horizon in the first state (above). |
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This is yet another state that lacks the subtle shading (bokashi) seen in the previous image. |
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This reproduction was published by Watanabe with
recarved woodblocks. Watanabe’s seal (ワタナベ) is in the left lower corner:
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“Robinson” refers to listing in Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982) and its privately published supplement. “Schaap” refers to listing in Heroes and Ghosts: Japanese Prints by
Kuniyoshi by Robert Schaap (Hotei Publishing,
Leiden, 1998). CLICK
HERE TO RETURN TO MAIN PAGE
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