Taiso Yoshitoshi (1839 - 1892) The great battle of Awazugahara (Awazugahara okassen no zu), 1867. Oban Triptych.
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This stunning 1867 Yoshitoshi triptych is a portrait of the great female heroine and warrior Tomoe-Gozen. Tomoe was the warrior mistress of Kiso Yoshinaka, and is seen here in combat with the army of Yoritomo Minomoto during the Genpei Wars of the late twelfth century. She is a popular folk heroine but rarely illustrated until Kuniyoshi’s mid-century invention of the 'strong woman' print. Yoshitoshi sets the action in front of the seashore; skirmishes among armour-clad samurai are visible behind the resting warriors of the foreground. Everywhere are the signs of a bloody and gruelling combat. The soldiers are weary and pierced all over with arrows and there is blood running from wounds on the figure in the left sheet who rests his hand on a bloody sword. The bloodied figure on the right sheet pauses to fill his helmet with water; the naginata of Tomoe Gozen runs with fresh blood whilst she herself is pierced all over with arrows.
The print is made only five years after the death of Yoshitoshi’s teacher and mentor Kuniyoshi, and we see Yoshitoshi here working more or less in the manner of Kuniyoshi’s style of musha-e, (warrior subject). Yoshitoshi would quickly refine this earlier style and join it with his own interpretation of European illustration, as seen in the example of the tales from the 36 Ghosts in this selection.
The battle of Awazugahara came at the conclusion of the great 12th century power struggle between the rival clans, the Taira and the Minamoto. In this tragedy, the battle was not between the clans but between two rival cousins of the Minamoto clan for final authority over Japan. Minamoto no Yoshinaka was eventually killed at the battle by soldiers loyal to Yoritomo. Tomoe-Gozen was Yoshinaka's fierce warrior wife who vainly attempted a rescue at the great battle. She commanded samurai troops during the war and is known to have beheaded the enemy warrior leader of the Musashi clan, and presented his head to her master Yoshinaka.
The bloodied spear that Tomoe holds is called a naginata; this pole-blade was to become the standard weapon of female samurai. An excellent page on its history and use, plus an account of how it was utilised to deadly effect is at history net.
This is a very dramatic and rare triptych by Yoshitoshi. There are no examples held in major museum collections and it is known by the title only at Yoshitoshi.net. Colour and impression are all fine. There is some wear to the paper, some scuffing and a small amount of lateral trimming to some sheets, otherwise a strong print and excellent over all.
Signed Tsukioka Yoshitoshi.
71 x 36 cm.
