Twenty-four Generals of Eastern Kai Province, One by One

(Kôyô nijûshi shô no hitori, 甲陽二十四將之一個)

Publisher: Yamaguchi-ya Tôbei

1853

 

Takeda Shingen of Kai Province conquered Shinano Province in 1547, expelling Murakami Yoshiharu and Ogasawara Nagatoki, who turned to Uyesugi Kenshin of Echigo Province for help.  A series of battles between the forces of Takeda Shingen and the forces of Uyesugi Kenshin were fought on the plain of Kawanakajima in the northern Shinano Province near the modern-day city of Nagano.  The five major battles took place in 1553, 1555, 1557, 1561 and 1564.  Although the number of prints in this series is unknown, the Kai generals were Hosshô-in Shingen Daikôji, Akiyama Hôki no Kami, Amari Sayemon, Anayama Baisetsu, Baba Mino no Kami, Hara Hayato-no-shô, Hara Mino no Kami, Kosaka Danjô, Morozumi Bungo no Kami, Mutô Kihei, Naitô Shuri-no-suke, Obata Kadzusa no Kami, Obata Yamashiro Nyûdô, Oyamada Hyôbu-no-jô, Saigusa Kageyu, Sanada Genda Sayemon, Sanada Hyôbu-no-jô, Sone Shimotsuke, Tada Awaji no Kami, Takeda Shirô Katsuyori, Takeda Shôyôken, Tsuchiya Uyemon, Yamagata Saburohei, Yamamoto Kansuke Nyûdô and Yokota Bitchû no Kami. 

 

Each of these prints shows a general in front of a large jinmaku (陣幕, military camp curtain) bearing the four diamond Takeda bishi mon).  This series was printed, in whole or in part, at least three times.  I believe that the prints with red and blue cartouches belong to the first edition.  The prints in this series are each about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban.  Most of the prints bear the seal of the carver Hori Take (彫竹).  I am indebted to Robert Pryor for his contributions to this section.

 

 

General: Takeda Daizendayû Harunobu Nyûdô Shingen (武田大膳大夫晴信入道信玄) seated in voluminous robes and a helmet decorated with demon’s horns and a white mane 

Robinson: S82.1

 

Another state of the above print with differently colored cartouches and lacking Kuniyoshi’s kiri seal

 

General: Takeda Sama-no-suke Nobushige (武田佐馬之介信繁) seated wearing a court cap and adjusting his armor

Robinson: S82.2

 

Another state with a brown jinbaori (surcoat)

 

 

An additional state

 

General: Yamamoto Kansuke Haruyuki (山本勘介晴幸) on one knee with his face in profile

Robinson: S82.3

 

 

Another state with a simplified banner

 

The colors on this state suggest a late printing

 

General: Yamagata Saburohei Masakage (山縣三郎兵衛昌景) adjusting his gauntlet (armored glove) with his spear resting in a hook on his belt

Robinson: S82.4

 

Another state

 

General: Naitô Shuri Masatoyo (内藤修理昌豊) kneeling with his helmet in front of him, adjusting his amour at the shoulder

Robinson: S82.5

 

 

General: Hara Hayato Masakatsu (原隼人昌勝) tightening his back-strap

Robinson: S82.6

 

Another state with a simplified hakama, under the armor

 

Another state

 

General: A back view of Oyamada Bitchû no Kami Masatatsu (小山田備t中守昌辰) in full armor grasping his spear

Robinson: S82.7

 

 

Another state

 

Another state of the above design with a blue flag

 

General: Imafuku Zenkurô Katsutada (今福善九郎伊尹) tying on his face-guard (mempô)

Robinson: S82.8

 

Faded, but still another state

 

Another state of the above design.  Note that Kuniyoshi’s kiri seal was crudely removed.

 

 

General: Kosaka Danjô-no-jô Masanobu (高坂弾正忠昌信)

Robinson: Unlisted

 

 

Another state with a simplified jinbaori (surcoat)

 

 

General: Anayama Idzu no Kami Nobuyoshi (穴山伊豆守良信)

Robinson: Unlisted

 

 

Another state of the above design

 

Another state with Kuniyoshi’s kiri seal crudely removed

 

“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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