Utagawa Kunihisa II (1832 - 1891) Miuranosuke and Kazusanosuke Defeat the Nine-tailed Fox on Nasu Moor (Miura Kazusa ryôsuke Nasuno ni kyûbi no kitsune uchitoru) 1858. Oban Triptych.
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This extraordinary print is one of the most famous works of ukiyo-e in the nineteenth century. A tour-de-force of myth, legend, historic curiosity and design. The fantastical scene is from the legend of the evil nine-tailed fox. This magical creature could transform itself into a beautiful woman, wreaking havoc on the leaders of China, Japan, and India.
The nine-tailed fox first appeared in China and possessed the concubine of King Zhou. She enchanted the king and brought a reign of terror that led to the end of Shang dynasty. The fox spirit fled to India and took on the form of Lady Kayo, concubine of the crown prince Banzoku, causing him to cut off the heads of a thousand men. It was then defeated again, and fled the country.
The fox stayed quiet for some time. Then she appeared in Japan as Tamamo-no-Mae, the most favoured courtesan of 12th century ruler Konoe. She was said to be a most beautiful and intelligent woman, being able to answer any question asked. She caused the Emperor to be extremely ill and was eventually exposed as a fox spirit by the astrologer Abe no Yasuchika, who had been called to diagnose the cause of the Emperor's poor health. A few years later, the emperor sent Kazusa-no-suke and Miura-no-suke to kill the fox in the plains of Nasu.
In this dramatic scene, Miuranosuke and Kazusanosuke are shown mounted in the left and right panels, each having fired an arrow into the nine-tailed fox, while samurai tumble out of the creature's way. Rays of mystical light emanates from a mass of swirling clouds with three Shinto haraigushi purification wands rising from it. The fox snarls ferociously, red ghostly flames float around the beast as it struggles on the ground. Samurai come running through the tall grasses towards the supernatural creature, flushing out two ordinary foxes in the process. A tremendous print, filled with exciting detail and action. A justly very well known image from Japanese art and a rare work in this condition since very often only the centre sheet survives. Other copies of this print are in most notable museum collections since it is rightly considered to be a major work by the artist. Notably, the Museum of Fine Art Boston.
Unbacked. Colour, impression and condition are all fine, excepting minor ink spillage from printing to the centre and right hand sheets.
Publisher: Yamadaya Shōjirō .
74 x 36 cm.
