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.

 

Kuniyoshi - (S 1f

 

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.

Kuniyoshi - (S 1f

 

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.

Kuniyoshi - (S 1f

 

This is another state of the above print made from the original woodblocks.

Kuniyoshi - (S 1f

 

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

Kuniyoshi - (S 1f

 

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

 

Kuniyoshi - (S 1f

 

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

 

Kuniyoshi - (S 1f

 

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

Kuniyoshi - (S 1f

 

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

 

Kuniyoshi - (S 1f

 

Scene: Hanaosho-Chisin (花和尚智深) with a pole arm

Publisher: Daikoku-ya Heikichi

Date: c. 1845

Robinson: not listed

 

Kuniyoshi - (S 1f

 

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

 

Kuniyoshi - (S 1f

 

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.

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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

 

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