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. |
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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) |
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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. |
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I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this additional state with no
censor’s seal. |
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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. |
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This is another state of the above print made from the original
woodblocks. |
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This is a 1930s reproduction of the above print published by
Robert O. Muller. New woodblocks were
carved for this printing. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Another state of the above design published by Ueyasu, who is called Jô-Yasu
in Robinson |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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Scene: Wada Heita Tanenaga (和田平太胤長) struggling
with huge python Publisher: Yamashiro-ya
Heisuke Date: c. 1845 Robinson: S1f.8 |
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Another state of the above design |
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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 |
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Scene: Hanaosho-Chisin (花和尚鲁智深) with a pole
arm Publisher: Daikoku-ya
Heikichi Date: c. 1845 Robinson: not listed |
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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 |
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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 |
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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. |
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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. CLICK
HERE TO RETURN TO GO TO PART II |