Individual Warrior Prints, 1842-1852

Part I

Most of these prints are listed in Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982) and its privately published supplement as S1f. Prints of Shôki the demon queller could be considered as belonging in this section. I am grateful to Robert Pryor for his contributions to this section.

Scene: Kidô Maru (鬼童丸) seated cross-legged on a giant python, his hands clasped, two wrapped pine-sprigs (aomatsuba) in his mouth, and a long dagger is driven into the python’s head with snakes curling around its blade

Publisher: Tsuta-ya Kichizô

Date: c. 1843

Robinson: S1f.1

Text: The child of Eizan Daishi-bô later successfully learned the ways of the tengu to attack Yorimitsu at Ichihara Moor (Moto Eizan Daishi-bô no ko nari ato tengudô no jutsu wo manabi tsuhini Ichiharano ni Yorimitsu no tame ni gekiru, 元叡山大師坊の児なり後天狗堂の術をまなびつひに市原野ニ頼光の為に撃る)

NOTE: This is the first edition, which is reproduced on the dust jacket of Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982)

Another state in which the seal of the censor Tanaka has replaced the kiwame seal, indicating a date of 1844-1845.

Kiwame seal	Tanaka’s seal

This state also has Tanaka’s seal, but the skin is blue rather than orange.

An additional state with no censor’s seal

Scene: Diving girl (ama) Tamatori, with sacred jewel, pursued by the Dragon King

Publisher: Tsuta-ya Kichizô

Date: c. 1843 from design c. 1840

Robinson: S1f.2

NOTE: This is the 1^st edition with the kiwame seal printed in black above the publisher’s seal in the left lower corner.

Another state in which the seal of the censor Tanaka has replaced the kiwame seal, indicating a date of 1844-1845.

Another state with the seal of the censor Tanaka and a green cartouche.

An additional state with the seal of the censor Tanaka and a white cartouche.

This is a 1930s reproduction of the above print published by Robert O. Muller. New woodblocks were carved for this printing.

Scene: Musashi-bô Benkei (武蔵坊弁慶) defeated by Onzôshi Ushiwaka Maru (御曹子牛若丸) under moonlight on Gojô Bridge

Publisher: Tsuta-ya Kichizô

Date: c. 1842 (with kiwame seal)

Robinson: S1f.3

On this print, the seal of the censor Tanaka has replaced the kiwame seal, indicating a date of 1844-1845.

This state also has the seal of the censor Tanaka, but lacks shading (bokashi) in the sky and on the hill.

Scene: Ushiwakamaru (牛若丸) fighting with Benkei

Publisher: No seal

Date: 1847-1850 (censors Mera and Murata)

Robinson: S1f.3a (not in Robinson)

Scene: Miyamoto Musashi (宮本無三四) cutting the wing off a bird-like creature called a bake-yamabushi

Publisher: Yoshimi-ya Sonokichi

Date: 1842-1846 (censor Fukatsu Ihei)

Robinson: S1f.4

NOTE: Robinson dates the design to c. 1835.

Another state also published by Yoshimi-ya Sonokichi

Another state of the above design published by Ueyasu, who is called Jô-Yasu in Robinson

Yoshimi-ya Sonokichi	Ueyasu

Another state, also published by Ueyasu, with a red signature cartouche

Kayblock print for the above design with the seal of the publisher Yoshimi-ya Sonokich

Scene: Raigô Ajari (頼豪阿闍梨) watched with apprehension by Ôe no Kunifusa-kyô (大江匡房郷) destroying the Buddhist scrolls at Miidera Temple

Publisher: Yoshimi-ya Sonokichi

Date: 1842-1846 (censor Fukatsu Ihei) from design c. 1835

Robinson: S1f.5

Another state published by Ueyasu (called Jô-Yasu in Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson)

Another state, also published by published by Ueyasu, without any purple

Another state with a solid purple hakama

Scene: Matano Gorô Kagehisa (俣野五郎景久) and Sanada Yoichi Yoshisada (真田与一義定) struggling on the rocks by a waterfall at Ishibashiyama

Publisher: Maru-ya Seijirô. This is a later printing; the first edition was published by Yamaguchi-ya Tobei.

Date: c. 1845 from design c. 1840

Robinson: S1f.6

Another state without shading (bokashi) in the waterfall

Scene: Shinchûnagon Tomomori (新中納言知盛) clasping the great anchor with which he drowned himself

Publisher: Nomura-ya Tokubei

Date: c. 1845

Robinson: S1f.7

Scene: Wada Heita Tanenaga (和田平太胤長) struggling with huge python

Publisher: Yamashiro-ya Heisuke

Date: c. 1845

Robinson: S1f.8

Another state with blue replacing purple

Another state of the above design without shading (bokashi) in the title cartouche

“Robinson” refers to listing in Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982) and its privately published supplement.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO PART II