Warrior triptychs

1842-1843, Part II

Title: The Igagoe Revenge (Iga Kôzuke ada-uchi, 伊賀上野敵討)

Description: Shizuma engaging Matagorô (right and center) while Masaemon fights against odds (left)

Publisher: Ezaki-ya Tatsuzô

Date: c. 1842-1843

Robinson: T106

Text: At the Time of Nijô-in… (Nijô-in no toki..., 二条院の時...)

Description: Gen Sammi Yorimasa standing with his bow (right), his wife Ayame-no-mae seated (center) and his squire Ii no Hayata Tadazumi (left) also seated

Publisher: Iba-ya Sensaburô

Date: c. 1842-1843

Robinson: T107

Title: Minamoto no Ushiwaka Maru Yahagi no chôja ga moto tachiyori tamau zu (源牛若丸矢矧長者が許立寄給圖)

Description: Minamoto Ushiwaka Maru (源牛若牛若丸) and Kisanda (鬼三太) being summoned by one of Jôruri-hime’s maids with Jôruri-hime (浄瑠璃姫) playing the koto in the house behind

Publisher: Iba-ya Kyûbei

Date: c. 1842-1843

Robinson: T108

I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for this alternate state of the above design.

Title: History of the Ups and Downs of the Minamoto and Taira: The Battle of Yashima in Sanuki Province (Gempei seisuiki: Sanshû Yashima kassen, 源平盛衰記 讃州八嶋合戦)

Description: The Battle of Yashima in Sanuki Province on March 23, 1184: Akushichibyôe Kagekiyo chasing Kunitoshi along the shore while Tsuginobu, shielding Yoshitsune, is shot by Noritsune from his boat

Publisher: Jôshû-ya Kinzô (Robinson gives publisher as Jôshû-ya Jûzô)

Date: c. 1842-1843

Robinson: T109

NOTE: The series History of the Ups and Downs of the Minamoto and Taira (Gempei seisuiki, 源平盛衰記) consists of five triptychs. In Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982) the series is listed as S19, but the individual triptychs are listed as T58, T59, T60, T109 and T123.

Text: Lord Chûnagon Suketoshi, Son of Lord Dainagon Suketomo… (Saimyôji Tokiyori Nyûdô shokoku shugyô no..., 最明寺時頼入道諸国修行の折から常世が茅屋に宿りて夫婦の忠義貞操を憐む圖)

Description: Tokiyori, the Hôjô regent, in monk’s habit, at the house of Tsuneyo in the snow; the latter’s daughter Shiratae cuts a valuable bonsai (dwarf tree) to make a fire

Publisher: Fujioka-ya Keijirô (listed as “Sakurai” in Robinson)

Date: c. 1842-1843

Robinson: T110

Text: Taira no Masakado son of Shôgun Tarô Yoshikado... (Taira no Masakado isshi Shôgun Tarô Yoshikado..., 平将門一子将軍太郎良門…)

Description: Iga Jutarô (伊賀寿太郎, left), Shôgun Tarô Yoshikado (将軍太郎良門, center), and his sister Takiyasha (滝夜叉, right) with their gang in the old temple where they lived

Publisher: Minato-ya Kohei

Date: c. 1842-1843

Robinson: T111

NOTE: This triptych is similar to T219.

Text: Yoshi-ie and the daughter of Mikawa Zenji… (Yoshi-ie Mikawa Zenji ga musume ni…, 義家美河善…)

Description: Hachiman-tarô Yoshi-ie (八幡太郎義家) cuts off the corner of a go board with his sword, while Nareginu, daughter of Mikawa Zenji, holds up a lantern, and Abe no Munetô (安部の宗任) stands glowering outside

Publisher: Fujioka-ya Hikotarô

Date: c. 1842-1843

Robinson: T111a

Title: Gen Zanmi Yorimasa Shooting the Monster Nue (Konoe-no-in no gyo-u Nimpyô san-nen, 源三位頼政鵺退治)

Description: Yorimasa shooting down the nue from above the palace of the Emperor Konoe in 1153

Publisher: Sôshû-ya Yohei

Date: c. 1842-1843

Robinson: T112

NOTE: The cartouche in the left lower corner has the signature of the carver of the woodblocks, Hori Ishigawa Kinha (彫工石川金八). I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for this image.

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this alternate state of the above design with a black foreground.

I am grateful to Thomas Voit for this additional state with a red text cartouche in the right upper corner.

Title: At Izu no Ôshima, Chinzei Hachirô Tametomo Shoots an Enemy Warship with an Arrow (Chinzei Hachirô Tametomo Izu no Ôshima ni te utte no hyôsen o iru no zu, 鎮西八郎為朝伊豆の大島にて討手の兵船を射るの圖)

Description: Tametomo (left) sinking the foremost ship of Mochimitsu’s fleet with a single arrow; his mistress Sasarae and his henchman Oniyasha, armed with a naginata and an iron club respectively with the rough islanders look on in admiration

Publisher: Tsujioka-ya Yasubei

Date: c. 1842-1843

Robinson: T113

NOTE: Another edition with a different publisher’s seal and different text is listed as T140 in Robinson. It is not clear which is the earlier printing.

Title: Yoritomo Presiding at a War-council of All His Chief Followers in His Battle against the Taira with the Rivalry of Sasaki and Kajiwara (Minamoto no Yoritomo-kô shoshô wo atsume, 源頼朝諸将を集め平家征伐の先陣を佐々木梶原にのぞむ圖)　

Description:

Publisher: Kazusa-ya Iwazô

Date: c. 1842-1843

Robinson: T114

Title: Minamoto no Yoritomo’s flag arriving at the Sumida River (Minamoto no Yoritomo Sumidagawa hata-age chakutô seizoroe no zu, 源頼朝隅田川旗上着到勢揃之圖)

Description: Presentation of a naginata to Hatakeyarna Shigetada by Hôjô Tokimasa before Yoritomo (all in center panel) on the banks of the Sumida River in 1180, with many warriors in attendance

Publisher: Tsuta-ya Kichizô

Date: c. 1842-1843

Robinson: T115

I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for this image.

Another state of the above design

Title: Kiso Kwanja Yoshinaka Heike wo horobasan to ichizoku etc.

Description: Kiso Yoshinaka’s (木曾義仲) farewell parade on going to war with the Taira in 1180 with Tomoe-gozen (巴御前) riding off (left)

Publisher: Kagi-ya Hanjirô

Date: c. 1842-1843

Robinson: T116

NOTE: This triptych was modified in 1849-1852 to become T244. The head of Tomoe-gozen was recut as Wakiya Yoshisuke, while Yoshinaka became Yoshisada and Yamabuki-gozen became Kôtô-no-naishi.

Title: Koshigoejô (腰越状)

Text: After the destruction of the Taira family, Minamoto no Yoshitsune is accused of being a swindler by Lord Yoritomo, and orders Benkei to file a complaint in Koshigoe, Soshu… (Minamoto no Yoshitsune Heike wo horoboshite nochi…, 源義経平家を亡して後、讒者の為に頼朝公の疑を蒙り相州腰越にて弁慶に命じ訴状を作る圖)

Description: After a slanderer put doubts of his loyalty into the mind of Lord Yoritomo, Minamoto no Yoshitsune (源義経) reading his plea to his brother Yoritomo after his victory over the Taira on July 3, 1185 (the text of the ‘Koshigoejô Letter’ occupies the upper part of the print)

Publisher: To-Sawa

Date: c. 1842-1843

Robinson: T117

Title: As an Offering to the Tsurugaoka Hachiman Shrine, Lord Yoritomo, the Major Captain of the Right, Conducts a Liberation Ceremony and Releases a Thousand Cranes (Udaishô Yoritomo kô Tsurugaoka Hachimangû e hôraku no tame senba no tsuru o hôjôe o okanai yô no zu, 右大将頼朝公鶴岡八幡宮へ法楽のため千羽の鶴を放生会を行ひやふの圖)

Description: Yoritomo releasing 1,000 cranes (a pious Buddhist practice) on the shore at Tsuru-ga-oka

Publisher: Sano-Ichi

Date: c. 1842-1843

Robinson: T118

I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for this alternate state of the above design.

Title: Asahina Yoshihide Fighting to Capture Two Crocodiles on the Occasion of the Lord Minamoto no Yoriie’s Sea Excursion off the Coast of Kamakura-Kotsubo (Minamoto no Yoriie-kô Kamakura Kotsubo no umi yûran Asahina Yoshihide shiyû no wani wo tôfu zu, 源頼家公鎌倉小壷海遊覧 朝夷義秀雌雄鰐を捕ふ圖)

Description: Asahina Yoshihide’s fight with two crocodiles in the sea off Kamakura, watched by the Shôgun Yori-ie and his nobles in boats

Publisher: Sôshû-ya Yohei

Date: c. 1842-1843

Robinson: T119

I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for this alternate state of the above design.

Title: Lord Chûnagon Suketoshi, Son of Lord Dainagon Suketomo (Dainagon Suketomo-kô no soku Chûnagon Suketoshi-kô)

Description: Kumawaka Maru (熊若丸), son of Dainagon Suketomo, and the wife of Shinozuka Iga no Kami outside a house in the snow

Publisher: Fujioka-ya Keijirô

Date: c. 1842-1843

Robinson: T120

Title: The Great Battle in Outer Hyôgo (Hyôgo no omote ô-kassen no zu, 兵庫表大合戦之圖)

Description: Encounter of the troops of Kusunoki Masashige and the Ashikaga in mid-stream in 1336

Publisher: Jôshû-ya Jûzô

Date: c. 1842-1843

Robinson: T121

I am grateful to Ward Pieters for locating this image.

Title: Family Tree of Minamoto Family (Genke shotô sofu koden, 源家正統祖譜小伝)

Description: An illustrated family tree of the main line of the Minamoto Clan from Sadazumi Shinnô (874-916), son of Emperor Seiwa, to Yoshitsune as follows:

RIGHT-HAND SHEET

(above): Asahi Shôgun Yoshinaka and Chinjufu Shôgun Minamoto no Yoriyoshi

(middle): Mutsu no Kami Minamoto no Yorimitsu and Reizei-in Hangwandai Yorinobu

(below): Sama Gon-no-kami Tada Mitsunaka and Rokusonnô Tsunemoto

MIDDLE SHEET

(above): Hachiman-tarô Yoshi-ie (八幡太郎義家), Sadazumi Shinnô and Rokujô Hangwan Tameyoshi

(middle): Shinra Saburô Yoshimitsu

(below): Chinzei Hachirô Tametomo and Sama-no-kami Yoshitomo

LEFT-HAND SHEET

(above): Udaishô Yoritomo and Kaba-no-Kwanja Noriyori

(middle): Tayû no Hangwan Yoshitsune

(below): Tatewaki Sensei Yoshikata and Akugenda Yoshihira

Publisher: Izumi-ya Ichibei

Date: c. 1842-1843

Robinson: T122

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

Title: History of the Ups and Downs of the Minamoto and Taira: The Attack on the Yamaki Palace (Gempei seisuiki: Izu no kuni Yamaki kassen, 源平盛衰記伊豆國山木合戦)

Description: Yoritomo’s attack on Yamaki Palace at night took Kanetaka and his retainers by surprise in 1180

Publisher: Jôshû-ya Kinzô

Date: c. 1842-1843

Robinson: T123

NOTE: The series History of the Ups and Downs of the Minamoto and Taira (Gempei seisuiki, 源平盛衰記) consists of five triptychs. In Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982) the series is listed as S19, but the individual triptychs are listed as T58, T59, T60, T109 and T123. I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

Title: At the Battle of Takadachi in Ôshû Province, Yoshitsune and His Retainers Fight Heroically (Ôshû Takadachi kassen Yoshitsune shujû yûsen hataraku no koto, 奥州高館合戦義経主従勇戦働之事)

Description: Yoshitsune leading a sortie from the castle of Takadachi over the moat bridge in 1189; Benkei knocking over foe (center)

Publisher: Some copies bear the seal of Ki-ya Sôjirô and others Kagi-ya Hanshirô

Date: c. 1842-1843

Robinson: T124

I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for this alternate state of the above design.

Title: Untitled

Description: The Soga brothers with Tegoshi no Shôshô in the rain outside the tent of Kudô Suketsune

Publisher: Ueyasu (called Jô-Yasu in Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson)

Date: c. 1842-1843

Robinson: T125

I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.

Text: At the Ataka Checkpoint in Kaga Province, When Yoshitsune and His Followers Are Suspected by Togashi Saemon, They Pretend to be Ascetics Raising Money for the Construction of the Great Buddha Hall at Tôdai-ji Temple; Benkei Uses His Skills to Read Out a Subscription List, and They Escape the Danger (Kaga no kuni Ataka no shinseki ni te Yoshitsune shujû Togashi Saemon ni mitogamerareshi o Tôdaiji daibutsuden konryû no genja to itsuwari Benkei sokuchi o motte kanjinchō o yomiagete kinan o manukaretamau, 加賀国安宅の新関にて義経主従、富樫左衛門に見とかめられしを東大寺大仏殿建立の験者と偽り、弁慶即智を以て勧進帳を読上げて危難を遁給ふ)

Description: Benkei reading his scroll (kwanjinchô) to Togashi Saemon at the Ataka Barrier, he and his party dressed as monks

Publisher: Eshima

Date: c. 1842-1843

Robinson: T126

I am grateful to Marc DeVriese for this image.

Title: Yoshitsune and His Followers at Mt. Hono (Yoshinoyama nite Yoshitsune shûjû, 芳埜山にて義経主従)

Description: The parting of Shizuka-gozen (woman in center sheet) from Yoshitsune (in red armor on the right) and his followers among the snows of Mount Yoshino. Musashi-bo Benkei (武蔵坊弁慶) is in the foreground of left sheet.

Publisher: Kazusa-ya Iwazô

Date: c. 1842-1843

Robinson: T127

Another state of the above design

“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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