Thirty-six Hero-poets

(Eiyû sanjûrokkasen, 英雄 三十六歌仙)

Publisher: Murata-ya Ichibei

December 1852 - January 1853

 

In spite of the series title, only these designs are known.  The prints are each about 10 by 14 inches (25 by 36 centimeters), a size known as ôban.

 

 

Hero-poet: Chinzei Hachirô Tametomo (鎮西八郎為朝), face in profile, seated in armor on a fur rug with his naginata (pole arm) resting on a bamboo stand

Landscape: The sea between mountains

Robinson: S77.1

 

Hero-poet: Gen Sammi Yorimasa (源三位頼仙) seated on a palace balcony in court robes over armor shielding his pace with his sleeve

Landscape: Irises (ayame)

Robinson: S77.2

 

NOTE: The irises (ayame) are an allusion to Ayame-no-maye whom the emperor gave to Yorimasa in marriage after the latter killed the monstrous nuye.

 

The above design was originally published by Ôsada in 1843-1846.  This is the original print, which used many of the same woodblocks.

 

Hero-poet: Hachiman-tarô Yoshi-ie (八幡太郎義家) bareheaded in hunting clothes carrying his bow

Landscape: A green hillside

Robinson: S77.3

 

Hero-poet: Empress regent Jingô Kôgô (神功皇后) seated in court robes leaning on an armrest by a brocade curtain 

Landscape: Chrysanthemums

Robinson: S77.4

 

Hero-poet: Shinchûnagon Taira no Tomomori (新中納言平知盛) standing in court robes over armor grasping a naginata (pole arm)

Landscape: A green hillside above a band of mist

Robinson: S77.5

 

I am grateful to Ward Pieters for locating this image.

 

The above design was originally published by Ôsada in 1843-1846.  This is the original print, which used many of the same woodblocks.

 

Hero-poet: Yamamoto Kansuke (山ホ勘助晴行), a general of Shingen Takeda

Landscape:

Robinson: Not listed 

 

 

Hero-poet: Shingen Takeda (武田晴信入道信玄)

Landscape:

Robinson: Not listed

 

“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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