Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861) Thirty-six Famous Battles: Soma Kotaro Yoshikado, 1848. Oban.
Click here for a full-size image.
A superb and rare Kuniyoshi warrior print - to coincide with the British Museum Samurai show - of an encounter between the samurai, Iga no Jutaro and the son of Taira no Masakado. Masakado was a powerful provincial magnate who led the first major rebellion against the central government in Kyoto. Known as the "first samurai", he briefly controlled the Kanto region and declared himself Emperor before being defeated in 940.
His son, Soma Kotaro Yoshikado, is pictured here on a bridge, encountering the rage filled Iga no Jutaro. Jutaro was the retainer of the Shogun, Soma no Yoshikado. Yoshikado was in turn brother of Princess Takiyasha, a notorious witch in Japanese folklore whose familiar was a toad. There are many stories and prints depicting her use of dark magic to avenge the death of her warlord father.
Kuniyoshi made a living from often fanciful depictions of Heian period conflicts… the warring states and the deeds of their legendary samurai. This is a very good example… the brave younger son of the rebel and the heavily armoured samurai and his gang. The series Thirty-six Famous Battles is a mitate (parodic) reinterpretation of the Taikoki; a biography of Hideyoshi, published in 1626.
Colour impression and condition are all fine. A great warrior print; a copy of this print is in the British Museum.
Published by: Iseya Ichibei.
25cm x 36cm.
