Military Brilliance for the Eight Views

(Yôbu hakkei)

Publisher: Tsuru-ya Kiyemon

1836

In eleventh century China, eight views of the Xiao and Xiang Rivers developed as a formalized series of landscape paintings. They represented views of the rivers and wetlands around Lake Dongting. The same eight views–autumn moon, lingering snow, evening glow, vesper bells, returning boats, clearing weather, night rain and homing geese–are likened to Japanese heroes in this series of prints. The prints in this series are each about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban.

	View: Autumn Moon at Ishibashiyama Scene: Sanda Yoichi Yoshitada about to kill Matano Gorô Kagehisa Robinson: S8.1
	View: Lingering Snow on Mt. Yoshino Scene: Satô Tadanobu overthrowing the monk, Yokogawa Kakuhan Robinson: S8.2
	View: Evening Glow at Uji Bridge Scene: Ichirai-hôshi standing on the shoulders of Tsutsui Jômyô Robinson: S8.3
	View: Vesper Bell at Suma Temple Scene: Kurô Hangwan Minamoto no Yoshitsune and Musashi-bô Benkei seated under cherry blossoms after the battle of Ichi-no-tani Robinson: S8.4
	View: Returning Boats from Korea Scene: Takeshiuchi-no-sukune, Empress Jingô’s commander, returning victoriously Robinson: S8.5
	View: Clearing Weather on Ichihara Moor Scene: Kidô Maru’s murderous attack on Raikô foiled by the latter’s retainers Robinson: S8.6
	View: Night rain at Suso Moor Scene: The Soga brothers about to enter the tent of Kudô Suketsune Robinson: S8.7
	View: Homing Geese at Kanazawa Scene: Hachimantarô Yoshi-iye watching the flight of geese betray the position of his foes Robinson: S8.8

‘Robinson’ refers to listing in Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982).

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