Illustrated Abridged Biography of Kôsô
(Kôsô go-ichidai
ryaku zu, 高祖御一代略図)
Publisher: Ise-ya Rihei (Kinjudo)
1835-1836
Nichiren, also known as Kôsô, was a Buddhist priest who lived from 1222 to 1282. He has had various miracles attributed to him and founded the Nichiren sect of Buddhism, of which Kuniyoshi was an adherent. The prints in this series are each about 10 by 14 inches (25 by 36 centimeters), a size known as ôban.
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Title:
Nichiren converting the spirit of a cormorant fisherman on the Scene:
Nichiren, seated on a rocky shore, is praying for the repose of the soul of a
cormorant fisherman in a boat below Robinson:
S6.1 Schaap:
17.1 |
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Title:
Komatsu Moor in Tôjô on Scene:
Nichiren using the power of his prayer beads to foil an attack by Tôjô no
Sayemon Komatsubara in 1264 Robinson:
S6.2 Schaap:
17.2 |
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Title: The
star of wisdom descends on the thirteenth night of the ninth month (Kugatsu jusan yoru i chiboshikou, 九月十三夜依智星降) Scene: An
apparition of Buddha appears to Nichiren in an old plum tree Robinson:
S6.3 Schaap:
17.3 |
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Title: The
prayer for rain on the promontory of Reisan in Scene: On
a promontory over the ocean, an attendant is holding an umbrella over
Nichiren after his prayer for rain was answered Robinson:
S6.4 Schaap:
17.4 |
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This is from a set
reproduced in the 1930s by Robert O. Muller from newly cut woodblocks. The text in the right margin has been
removed. |
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Title: At
Komuroyama on July 4, 1274 (Bun’ei
juichi go gatsu nijuhachi nichi Komuroyama chushi ishi, 小村山法輪石) Scene:
Nichiren keeping a rock thrown at him suspended in the air Robinson:
S6.5 Schaap:
17.5 |
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Another state of the above
design |
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Title:
Apparition of the seven-faced god at Minobu Mountain in September of 1277 (Kenji sannen kugatsu Minobuzan shichimen
kami jigen, 健治三年九月見延山七面神示現) Scene:
While Nichiren was conducting services, a dragon in a dark cloud emerged from
the body of a woman who had disturbed his devotions. Robinson:
S6.6 Schaap:
17.6 NOTE: Robinson
translates the title of this print as “Apparition of the seven-faced god at |
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Title: The
defeat of Mongol army in 1281 as prophesied by Nichiren (Koan yonnen kojo rieki mo, 弘安四年上人利益蒙虎軍敗北) Scene:
Ships of the invading Mongolian army were battered by a severe storm, and the
survivors were easily vanquished by the Japanese soldiers. Robinson:
S6.7 Schaap:
17.7 |
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Another state of the above
design |
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Yet another state |
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Title:
At Execution Ground of Tatsunokuchi in Sagami
Province (相州竜の口) Scene:
Nichiren’s life is miraculously saved when rays emanating from the sun shatter
the sword of his would be executioner. Robinson:
S6.8 Schaap:
17.8 |
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Title: On
the waves at Kakuda on the way to Sado (Sashu
ryukei Kakuda nami o me, 佐州流刑角田波) Scene:
Nichiren calming a rough sea with a prayer on his way to exile in Sado Robinson:
S6.9 Schaap:
17.9 NOTE: The
Lotus Sutra (namu myôhô renge kyô)
can be seen in black script on the surface of the water. |
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This is another edition of
the above print. |
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Title:
Tsukahara in Sado Province in the Snow (Sashu
Tsukahara setchu, 佐州塚原雪中) Scene:
Nichiren traveling in the snow at Tsukahara on Sado Island where he was
exiled Robinson:
S6.10 Schaap:
17.10 |
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This is the second state of
the above design, which is one of Kuniyoshi’s most famous. It lacks the horizontal line that
demarcates the horizon in the first state (above). |
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This is yet another state
that lacks the subtle shading (bokashi)
seen in the previous image. |
“Robinson” refers to listing in Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982) and its privately published supplement.
“Schaap”
refers to listing in Heroes and Ghosts:
Japanese Prints by Kuniyoshi by Robert Schaap (Hotei Publishing, Leiden,
1998).
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