Warrior triptychs

1839-1841, Part II

Title: The Great Battle of Awazu Plain: The Four Heavenly King of Yoshinaka, Imai Shiro Kanehira (Awazu-ga-hara ô-kassen: Yoshinaka Shitennô Imai Shirô Kanehira, 粟津ヶ原大合戦義仲ノ四天王今井四郎兼平力戦して寿永三年正月三十三才にて英名をとどむる)

Description: Prowess of Imai Kanehira at the battle of Awazu Plain in March, 1184; he is shown fighting under the pine tree of Karasaki on the shore of Lake Biwa; Yoshitsune is seen on the left

Publisher: Sôshû-ya Yohei

Date: c. 1839-1841

Robinson: T63

I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for this image.

Title: Washio Saburô Fighting a Bklack Bear at the Battle of Ichi-no-tani (Washi-no-o no Saburô Ichi-no-tani no annaisha to naru zu (鷲ノ尾三郎一の谷鵯越の案内者となる圖)

Description: Washio Saburô (鷲ノ尾三郎) struggling with a black bear, watched by Yoshitsune and his retainers on March 21, 1184

Publisher: Maru-ya Seijirô

Date: c. 1839-1841

Robinson: T64

Note Yoshitsune’s sleeve in the left panel of this alternate state of the above design.

Title: Yoshitsune’s Troop Attacking Group of the Heike from the Top of Ichinotani Hill (Yoshitsune no gumpei Ichi-no-tani saka-otoshi no zu, 義経之軍兵一ノ谷逆落之圖)

Description: Yoshitsune leading his men in the descent of the Hiyodori-goe Gorge at the Battle of Ichi-no-tani on March 21, 1184

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Uhei

Date: c. 1839-1841

Robinson: T65

NOTE: Several examples of this state have been located, and they all have the three signature cartouches in different colors. This example is courtesy of Marc DeVriese.

Two sheets from another state of the above design

Title: Yoshitsune Has a Signboard Put up for the Cherry Tree at Suma Temple in Harima Province (Banshû Suma-ga-mori no sakura ni Yoshitsune kôsatsu wo tatsuru zu, 播州須磨寺ノ櫻ニ義経高札ヲ立ル圖)

Description: Yoshitsune (center) and his followers under the cherry-trees of Suma receiving Kumagai Naozane (left) with the head of Atsumori in a box after the Battle of Ichi-no-tani on March 21, 1184

Publisher: Kaga-ya Kichibei

Date: c. 1839-1841

Robinson: T66

Another state of the above design with a partly black sky

Title: The Quarrel between Yoshitsune and Kajiwara Kagetoki about Reversed Oars before the Battle of Yashima (Minamoto no Yoshitsune Kajiwara sakaro sôron no zu, 源義経梶原逆艪争論圖)

Description: The quarrel between Yoshitsune and Kajiwara Kagetoki about ‘reversed oars’ (sakaro) before the Battle of Yashima on March 23, 1184

Publisher: Arita-ya Seiemon

Date: c. 1839-1841

Robinson: T67

Another state of the above design

Title: The Great Battle of Yashima in the Genpei Wars (Gempei Yashima ô-kassen, 源平八島大合戦)

Description: The great battle of Yashima on March 23, 1184: Yoshitsune’s “eight boat leap” (center), Noritsune (left), Benkei on a large boat and Munemori clinging to a piece of floating wood (right)

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Uhei

Date: c. 1839-1841

Robinson: T68

Note the mountains in the left panel of the alternate state.

Title: The Great Battle of Akama-ga-ura in Nagato Province (Nagato no kuni Akama-ga-ura Gempei ô-kassen, 長門国赤間関源平大合戦)

Description: The great Battle of Akama-ga-ura (usually known as the Battle of Dan-no-ura): Yoshitsune performing his “eight boat leap” pursued by Noritsune and Moritsugu

Publisher: Kawaguchi-ya Chôzô

Date: c. 1839-1841

Robinson: T69

NOTE: Yoshitsune’s superhuman “eight boat leap” (hassô-tobi) is usually associated with the Battle of Yashima, rather than the Battle of Dan-no-ura.

Title: The Ghosts of the Heike Appear at Daimotsu Bay in Settsu Province (Sesshû Daimotsu-no-ura ni Heike no onryô arawaruru no zu, 摂州大物浦平家怨霊顕る圖)

Description: The ghosts of the Taira attacking Yoshitsune’s ship in Daimotsu Bay in the province of Settsu on November 28, 1185

Publisher: Nuno-Kichi

Date: c. 1839-1841

Robinson: T70

I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for this alternate state with a red title cartouche.

Title: Lord Yoritomo’s Hunting Party Assembles in the Foothills of Mount Fuji (Udaishô Yoritomo-kô Susono maki-gari seisen zu, 右大将頼朝公裾野牧狩勢揃圖)

Description: Yoritomo’s hunting-party assembling on Suso Moor under Mount Fuji in 1193

Publisher: Arita-ya Seiemon (listed as Arita-ya Seijirô by Robinson)

Date: c. 1839-1841

Robinson: T71

I am grateful to Ward Pieters for locating this image.

Another state of the above design, also published by Arita-ya Seiemon, courtesy of Marc DeVriese

One sheet from another state of the above triptych published by Yamashiro-ya Jinbei, whose seal reads “Yamajin han” (山甚板)

Title: Minamoto no Yoritomo’s Hunt at Mount Fuji in the 4^th Year of the Kenkyû Era (Kenkyû yo-nen Minamoto no Yoritomo Fuji maki-gari no zu, 建久四年源頼朝富士巻狩之圖)

Description: Tadatsune about to receive the charge of the monstrous boar, watched by Yoritomo and his followers in 1193

Publisher: Mori-ya Jihei

Date: c. 1839-1841

Robinson: T72

NOTE: The panels in this triptych are each approximately 20 by 8 inches (50 by 20 centimeters), a size known either as nagaban or as chôban.

Title: Lord Yoritomo’s Hunt at Mount Fuji (Yoritomo-kô Fuji no mi-kari no zu, 頼朝公富士之御狩ノ圖)

Description: Yoritomo and his followers watching Tadatsune killing the monstrous wild boar

Publisher: Sano-ya Kihei

Date: c. 1839-1841

Robinson: T73

I am grateful to Vladislav Ruchkin for this image.

Another state of the above design courtesy of Marc DeVriese. Note the red signature cartouches.

Title: The Great Wrestling Match before Yoritomo and His Son Sanetomo: Chokyo Wrestling with Chikatsune (Udaishô Yoritomo-kô sumô go-ran no zu, 右大将頼朝公相撲御覧圖)

Description: The great sumô wrestling match before Yoritomo and his son Sanetomo: Chôkyô wrestling with Chikatsune, umpired by Ogata Saburô Masayoshi

Publisher: Fujioka-ya Hikotarô

Date: c. 1839-1841

Robinson: T74

Title: Untitled

Description: Egara Heita Tanenaga, having been swallowed by a giant python, cuts his way out, while Izumi Kojirô Chikahira and Wada Kojirô Yoshishige control the monster

Publisher: Jôshû-ya Kinzô

Date: c. 1839-1841

Robinson: T75

NOTE: Some of the woodblocks for this triptych were originally used for the kabuki play Isse Ichidai Kuriki no Myônoji (一世一代功力妙法字), which was performed in the 11^th month of 1838.

Title: A Picture of the Floating Bridge across the Tenryû River from the Taiheiki (Taiheiki Tenryûgawa no ukihashi no zu, 太平記天龍川之浮橋圖)

Description: Nitta Yoshisada and Funada Nyûdô together leaping the gap in the broken bridge across the Tenryûgawa in 1335

Publisher: Jôshû-ya Kinzô and Ezaki-ya Tatsuzô

Date: c. 1839-1841

Robinson: T76

NOTE: Jôshû-ya Kinzô’s seal is on the left sheet, and Ezaki-ya Tatsuzô’s seal is on the right sheet.

No image available

Title: The Great Battle of Miidera: Nitta Shitennô (Miidera kassen: Nitta Shitennô, 三井寺大合戦: 新田四天王)

Description: A charge led by Wakiya Uemon-no-suke Yoshisuke (the younger brother of Nitta Yoshisada) at the Battle of Miidera

Publisher: Sôshû-ya Yohei

Date: c. 1839-1841

Robinson: T77

Title: Nitta Sachûjô Yoshisada, with His Sixteen Heroic Retainers, Set Out from Hyôgo and Attacked Takauji’s Force of Sixty Thousand (Nitta Sachûjô Yoshisada jûroku ki no eiyû to tomo ni Hyôgo omote ni shutsujin shite Takauji no rokujjûman ki to tatakau zu, 新田左中将義貞十六騎の英雄と供に兵庫おもてに出陣して尊氏の六十万騎と戦ふ圖)

Description: Nitta Yoshisada and his little band of heroes on the shore awaiting the host of Ashikaga Taka-uji, whose ships are seen approaching in the mist prior to the Battle of the Minatogawa in 1336

Publisher: Jôshû-ya Kinzô

Date: c. 1839-1841

Robinson: T78

Title: Kusunoki Masatsura kyôgun mi hatsukô wo mite (Kusunoki Masatsura and His Staff on a Cliff Watching Ashikaga’s Troops, 楠正行京軍之発向を見て諸士を集へて敵を砕の謀軍立の手賦を議し給ふ圖)

Description: Kusunoki Masatsura on a hillock surrounded by his staff watching the massing of the Ashikaga troops under the opposing cliff

Publisher: Sano-ya Kihei

Date: c. 1839-1841

Robinson: T79

I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for the image.

Another state of the above design

Title: In the Ryakuô Era (1338–42), the Forty-seven Retainers of En'ya Hangan Make a Night Attack on Their Sworn Enemy Kôno Moronao (Ryakuô nenchû En'ya Hangan keshi yonjûshichi-ki onteki Kôno Moronao youchi no zu, 暦応年中塩治判官家士四十七騎怨敵高野師直夜討之圖)

Description: The night attack of the Forty-Seven Rônin: the fight in Moronao’s garden, crossed by a long wooden gallery

Publisher: Sano-ya Kihei

Date: c. 1839-1841

Robinson: T80

Title: The Forty-seven Ronin Burning Incense before the Tomb of Their Master Asano Takumi no Kami (Chûshingura shijûshichi-nin: gishi shôkô no zu, 忠臣蔵四十七人 義士焼香之圖)　

Description: The Forty-Seven Rônin burning incense before the tomb of their master Enya Hangwan after avenging his death

Publisher: Maru-ya Jimpachi

Date: c. 1839-1841

Robinson: T81

Title: A Miracle of Kannon (Kanzeon no reigen, 観世音霊験)

Description: The Hag of Adachi-ga-hara in the Lonely House (hitotsuya) with her girl-victim and the apparition of the goddess Kwannon

Publisher: Minato-ya Kohei

Date: c. 1839-1841

Robinson: T82

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this alternate state of the above design.

Title: The Igagoe Revenge (伊賀上...)

Description:

Publisher: Mori-ya Jihei

Date: c. 1839-1841

Robinson: T82a (not listed by Robinson)

NOTE: The panels in this triptych are each approximately 20 by 8 inches (50 by 20 centimeters), a size known either as nagaban or as chôban.

Title: Revenge at Kozuke in Iga (Iga Kozuke adauchi no zu, 伊賀上野仇討ち圖)

Description: Sakuragi Rinzaemon fleeing on horseback (left), his followers chased by Karaki Masaemon (right), while others are engaged by Ishidome Busuke (right); in the background are Ubudai Rekishiro (left) racing to the assistance of Ikezoe Magohachi (centre) who is engaged with Azumaki Kurobei, and Sawai Matagoro with Wada Shizuma

Publisher: Izumi-ya Ichibei

Date: c. 1839-1841

Robinson: T82b (not listed by Robinson)

Title: The Nineteen Retainers of Yoshitsune (Yoshitsune (no) jûku-shin, 義経十九臣)

Description: Yoshitsune and his nineteen retainers in a ship with Benkei at the prow

Publisher: Izumi-ya Ichibei

Date: c. 1839-1841

Robinson: T82c (not listed by Robinson)

NOTE: This triptych is very similar to T32 and to T319. I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for the image.

Title:

Description: Kusunoki Masashige’s (楠木正成) attack on Akasaka-jô (下赤坂城, Lower Akasaka Fortress) in 1331

Publisher: Ezaki-ya Kichibei

Date: c. 1840

Robinson: T82d (not listed by Robinson)

I am grateful to John Haessle for this image.

“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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