Individual Warrior Prints, Part I

1842 – 1852

Most of these prints are listed in Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982) and its privately published supplement as S1f. Prints of Shôki the demon queller could be considered as belonging in this section.

	Scene: Kidô Maru (鬼童丸) seated cross-legged on a giant python, his hands clasped, two wrapped pine-sprigs (aomatsuba) in his mouth, and a long dagger is driven into the python’s head with snakes curl around its blade Publisher: Tsuta-ya Kichizô Date: c. 1843 Robinson: S1f.1 NOTE: This is the first edition, which is reproduced on the dust jacket of Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982)
	I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this later printing in which the seal of the censor Tanaka has replaced the kiwame seal, indicating a date of 1844-1845.
	I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this additional state with no censor’s seal.
	Scene: diving girl (ama) Tamatori, with sacred jewel, pursued by the Dragon King Publisher: Tsuta-ya Kichizô Date: c. 1843 from design c. 1840 Robinson: S1f.2 NOTE: Although difficult to see, there is a small round censor’s seal in the left lower corner, which was printed in black in the first edition.
	This is another state of the above print made from the original woodblocks.
	This is a 1930s reproduction of the above print published by Robert O. Muller. New woodblocks were carved for this printing.
	Scene: Musashi-bô Benkei (武蔵坊弁慶) defeated by Onzôshi Ushiwaka Maru (御曹子牛若丸) under moonlight on Gojô Bridge Publisher: Tsuta-ya Kichizô Date: c. 1842 (with kiwame seal) Robinson: S1f.3 I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.
	On this print, the seal of the censor Tanaka has replaced the kiwame seal, indicating a date of 1844-1845. Note the lack of shading in the sky and on the hill.
	Scene: Ushiwakamaru (牛若丸) fighting with Benkei Publisher: No seal Date: 1847-1850 (censors Mera and Murata) Robinson: S1f.3a (not in Robinson) I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this image.
	Scene: Miyamoto Musashi (宮本無三四) cutting the wing off a bird-like creature called a bake-yamabushi Publisher: Yoshimi-ya Sonokichi Date: 1842-1846 (censor Fukatsu Ihei) Robinson: S1f.4 NOTE: Robinson dates the design to c. 1835.
	Another state of the above design published by Ueyasu, who is called Jô-Yasu in Robinson
	Scene: Raigô Ajari (頼豪阿闍梨) watched with apprehension by Ôe no Kunifusa-kyô (大江匡房郷) destroying the Buddhist scrolls at Miidera Temple Publisher: Ueyasu (called Jô-Yasu in Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson) Date: 1842-1846 (censor Fukatsu Ihei) from design c. 1835 Robinson: S1f.5
	Scene: Matano Gorô Kagehisa (俣野五郎景久) and Sanada Yoichi Yoshisada (真田与一義定) struggling on the rocks by a waterfall at Ishibashiyama Publisher: Maru-ya Seijirô. This is a later printing; the first edition was published by Yamaguchi-ya Tobei. Date: c. 1845 from design c. 1840 Robinson: S1f.6
	Scene: Shinchûnagon Tomomori (新中納言知盛) clasping the great anchor with which he drowned himself Publisher: Nomura-ya Tokubei Date: c. 1845 Robinson: S1f.7
	Scene: Wada Heita Tanenaga (和田平太胤長) struggling with huge python Publisher: Yamashiro-ya Heisuke Date: c. 1845 Robinson: S1f.8
	Another state of the above design
	Scene: Kokusempû Ri Ki (黒旋風李逵, the Black Whirlwind) with flying hair and beard armed with two large axes Publisher: Daikoku-ya Heikichi Date: c. 1845 Robinson: S1f.9 NOTE: Kokusempû Ri Ki is Li Kui in Chinese
	Scene: Hanaosho-Chisin (花和尚鲁智深) with a pole arm Publisher: Daikoku-ya Heikichi Date: c. 1845 Robinson: not listed
	Scene: Kyûmonryû Shi En (九紋龍史進, the Nine-Tattooed Dragons) with a pole arm Publisher: Daikoku-ya Heikichi Date: c. 1845 Robinson: not listed NOTE: Kyûmonryû Shi En is Shi Jin in Chinese
	Scene: Oniwaka Maru (鬼若丸, Benkei in boyhood) killing a giant carp in an old lake. Publisher: Yamamoto-ya Heikichi Date: c. 1848 from design c. 1840 Robinson: S1f.10
	Scene: Onzôshi Ushiwaka Maru (御曹子牛若丸, Yoshitsune in boyhood) prostrating himself before the tengu king Sôjô-bô (僧正坊) in the woods of Kuramayama Publisher: Yamamoto-ya Heikichi Date: c. 1848 from design c. 1840 Robinson: S1f.11 NOTE: Tengu are forest-dwelling creatures that are either human-like with wings and long noses or bird-like.
	Scene: The Hosokawa retainer Shimamura Danjô Takanori (嶋村弾正高則), his armor pierced with arrows, leaning on his naginata (pole arm) and riding over the waves on the backs of giant crabs Publisher: Maru-ya Seijirô (丸屋清次郎) Date: c. 1845 from design c. 1840 Robinson: S1f.12

“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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