Eight Hundred Heroes of Our Country’s Suikoden, One by One

Part II

This series of prints shows various Japanese warriors. The title of the series likens them to the Chinese heroes of the semi-historical novel, Suikoden (Shuihu zhuan in Chinese). The prints in this series are each about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban.

	Scene: Doki Taishirô Motosada (土喜泰四郎元貞) wrestling with a niô at the haunted shrine of Maôdô at Inohanayama in Kai Province Date: 1834-1835 Robinson: S4b.1 NOTE: Niô figures are statues of the Benevolent Kings, or protectors, a pair of which stand guard outside most Japanese Buddhist temples. I am grateful to Frank Lesser for this image.
	Scene: Imumura Daikaku Masanori (犬村大学礼儀　幼名角太郎) killing the cat-witch of Kôshin-yama Date: 1834-1835 Robinson: S4b.2 I am grateful to Ward Pieters for locating this image.
	Scene: Miyamoto Musashi (宮本無三四) killing a huge lizard where the provinces of Echizen, Mino and Hida meet Date: 1834-1835 Robinson: S4b.3
	Another state of the above print
	Yet another state
	Scene: Sagi-no-ike Heikurô (鷺池平九郎) wrestling with a huge serpent at Sayama Lake at Tondabayashi in Kawachi Province Date: 1834-1835 Robinson: S4b.4 Censor’s seal: Kiwame Publisher: Kaga-ya Kichibe
	This is a later edition of the above design published 1842-1846. It is obvious that the rectangular publisher’s seal and circular censor’s seal were removed from the right lower corner and replaces with different seals in the left lower corner. Censor: Watanabe Shôemon Publisher: Iba-ya Sensaburô
	I am grateful to Nathan Oliver for this example of the above design, in which evidence of the original publisher’s and censor’s seals has been eliminated. Censor: Watanabe Shôemon Publisher: Iba-ya Sensaburô
	Scene: Yamato-take-no-Mikoto (日本武尊) about to cut down the grass that the eastern barbarians had ignited with his “grass-mowing sword” Date: 1834-1835 Robinson: S4b.5
	Scene: Crown Prince Gon-no-suke Sumimoto (春宮権助純素) struggling with Tai no Jurô Masaharu, a retainer of Minamoto no Mitsunaka Date: 1834-1835 Robinson: S4b.6
	Scene: Inukawa Sôsuke Yoshitaka (犬川荘介??) dealing with several thugs Date: 1834-1835 Robinson: S4b.7
	Scene: Inuda Kobungo Yasuyori (犬田小文吾忬順) wrestling a huge bull at the festival bullfight at Nijû, Koshi-gôri in Echigo Province Date: c.1836 Robinson: S4c.1
	Scene: Inuyama Dôsetsu Tadatomo (犬山道節忠興) raising Murasame, his famous sword, as a fire burns behind him. He was known for his ability to magically control fire. Date: c.1836 Robinson: S4c.2
	Scene: Fuse-hime saving her grandson Inue Shimbyôe Masashi (犬江親兵衛仁) from a thunderbolt Date: c.1836 Robinson: S4c.3
	Scene: Iwanuma Kichirokuro Nobusato (岩沼吉六郎信里) defending himself against giant salamanders in a river Date: c.1834-1835 Robinson: Not listed I am grateful to Ward Pieters for locating this image.
	Scene: Watanaba no Tsuna (渡辺源二綱) about to cut off the arm of the demon of Rashômon Date: c.1834-1835 Robinson: Not listed
	Key block print for 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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