Military Brilliance for the Eight Views

(Yôbu hakkei, 燿武八景)

Publisher: Tsuru-ya Kiyemon

1836

In eleventh century China, eight views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers developed as a formalized series of landscape paintings. They represented views of the rivers and wetlands around Lake Dongting. The same eight views–autumn moon, lingering snow, evening glow, vesper bells, returning boats, clearing weather, night rain and homing geese–are likened to Japanese heroes in this series of prints. The prints in this series are each about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban. I am grateful to Robert Pryor for assisting with this section.

	View: Autumn Moon at Ishibashiyama (Ishibashiyama akizuki, 右橋山秋月) Scene: Sanda Yoichi Yoshitada (真田與市義定) about to kill Matano Gorô Kagehisa (股野五郎景久) Robinson: S8.1 NOTE: This print is reminiscent of Hokusai’s Great Wave off Kanagawa.
	Another state of the above design
	Another state without any yellow, but with a kiwame censor’s seal in the left lower corner
	View: Lingering Snow on Mt. Yoshino (Yoshino-san bosetsu, 吉野山暮雪) Scene: Satô Tadanobu (佐藤 忠信) overthrowing the monk, Yokogawa Kakuhan (横川覺範) Robinson: S8.2
	I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this alternate state with a dark sky.
	Another state with a dark sky, but no light blue in water or seals
	View: Evening Glow at Uji Bridge Scene: Ichirai-hôshi (一来法師) standing on the shoulders of Tsutsui Jômyô (筒井浄明) Robinson: S8.3
	Another state without any red
	Another state with green in the sunrays and a blue mountain
	View: Vesper Bell at Suma Temple Scene: Kurô Hangwan Minamoto no Yoshitsune (九郎判官源義經) and Musashi-bô Benkei (武蔵坊辨慶) seated under cherry blossoms after the battle of Ichi-no-tani Robinson: S8.4
	Another state of the above design
	View: Returning Boats from Korea Scene: Takeshiuchi no Sukune (武内宿禰), Empress Jingô’s commander, returning victoriously Robinson: S8.5
	This state has a white flag in the right upper corner and the publisher’s seal has been removed from the right lower corner. Presumably, the woodblocks were purchased by a different publisher and reissued.
	View: Clearing Weather on Ichihara Moor (Ichibara seiran, 市原晴嵐) Scene: Kidô Maru’s (鬼童丸) murderous attack on Minamoto no Yorimitsu (源頼光) foiled by the latter’s retainers Robinson: S8.6
	Another state of the above design
	View: Night rain at Suso Moor (裾野夜雨) Scene: The Soga brothers, Soga Gorô Takimune (曽我五郎時致) and Soga Jûrô Sukenari (曽我十郎祐成), about to enter the tent of Kudô Suketsune Robinson: S8.7
	This state has a blue curtain, but no green foliage.
	This state has neither a blue curtain nor green foliage.
	View: Homing Geese at Kanazawa Scene: Hachimantarô Yoshiie (八幡太郎義家) watching the flight of geese betray the position of his foes Robinson: S8.8
	Another state without any purple

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

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