Mirror of the Quartets of Retainers of Famous Generals

(Meishô shi-ten kagami, 名將四天鑑)

Publisher: Jôshû-ya Kinzô

1861 from designs c. 1848

This series was published shortly after Kuniyoshi’s death on April 14, 1861. Robinson lists only these three designs in this series, and it is unlikely that any more exist. The prints are each about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban.

	Description: Minamoto no Yorimitsu Ason (源頼光朝臣, also known as Raikô) with his four retainers all seated in court robes and caps. Clockwise from the top: Usui Sadamitsu (碓井貞光), Urabe Suyetake (卜部 季武), Watanabe no Tsuna (渡邊 綱), and Sakata no Kintoki (坂田公時) Robinson: S94.1
	Description: Minamoto no Yoshinaka Ason (源義仲朝臣) with his four retainers all wearing armor. Clockwise from the top: Imai Shirô Kanehira (今井四郎兼平), Tate Rokurô Chikatada (楯六郎親忠), Higuchi Jirô Kanemitsu (with a large axe, 樋口次郎兼光), and Nenoi Daiyata Yukichika (根井大弥太行親) Robinson: S94.2
	Another version of the above print. It is a less labor-intensive printing than the above, which almost invariably means a later edition. In this print, the delicate shading (bokashi) in the title cartouche (left upper corner) was replaced with a solid color. Bokashi was achieved by hand applying a gradation of ink to the wooden printing block rather than inking the block uniformly. This hand-application had to be repeated for each sheet of paper that was printed.
	Description: Nitta Yoshisada Ason (新田義貞朝臣) with his four retainers all wearing armor. Clockwise from the top: Kuriu Sayemon Norihisa (栗生左エ門範久), Watari Shinzayemon Yasumasa (亘新左衛門康昌), Shinodzuka Iga no Kami Sadatsuna (篠塚伊賀守貞綱), and Hata Rokurozayemon Tokiyoshi (畑六郎左エ門時能) Robinson: S94.3
	A later state of the above print.

“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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