Selection for the Eight Views

(Mitate hakkei, 美盾八競)

1846

 

This series of triptychs likens battle scenes to the eight views.  It is listed in Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints by Basil William Robinson (Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, 1982) both as series S39 and as individual triptychs T176 through T182.  Mitate hakkei may be translated as “Selection for the Eight Views”, “Parodies of the Eight Views” or as “Allegory of the Eight Views”.  The three individual panels of each triptych are about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban.

 

Kuniyoshi - (T176) Selections for the 8 Views (Mitate hakkei), Miyamoto Musashi defending himself at a bathhouse (Pub

Title: Glorious Sunset (seiran, 晴嵐)

Description: Miyamoto Musashi by a mill-stream knocking down Shirakura Dengoyemon and his men with a broken beam

Publisher: Iba-ya Kyûbei

Robinson: T176

Kuniyoshi - (T176) Selections for the 8 Views (Mitate hakkei), Miyamoto Musashi defending himself at a bathhouse

Another state of the above design published by Jôshû-ya Juzô

Kuniyoshi - (T177) Selections for the 8 Views (Mitate hakkei), Takadono Rakugan, Taira no Masakado in his palace boasting that he could bring down a flying bird just by looking at it

Title: Descending Geese at Takadono (Takadono no rakugan, 高殿落雁)

Description: Masakado drinking sake on a terrace with Kikyô-no-maye and other ladies watching a flight of wild geese in the year 939

Publisher: Enshû-ya Matabei

Robinson: T177

Kuniyoshi%20-%20(T178)%20Selections%20for%20the%208%20Views%20(Mitate%20hakkei),%20The%20Polearm%20Struggle%20of%20Oniwakamaru

Title: Evening Bell at Shôshazan (Shôshazan no banshô, 書冩山 晩鐘)

Description: Oniwaka Maru (鬼若丸) knocking down attackers on the steps of Enkyôji Temple in Harima Province

Publisher: Enshû-ya Matabei

Robinson: T178

Kuniyoshi - (T179) Mitate Hakkei - Yashima sekisho, Kyuro Hangan Minamoto no Yoshitsune on horse, and Benkei, Nasu no Yoichi with Tamamushi

Title: Evening Glow at Yashima (Yashima no sekishô, 屋島夕照)

Description: Benkei looking through a telescope (left) at Lady Tamamushi-no-maye (right) and the fan on the pole at the Battle of Yashima

Publisher: Iba-ya Sensaburô

Robinson: T179

 

I am grateful to Louise Ariëns Kappers and C.P.J. van der Peet for this image.

Kuniyoshi - (T180) Selections for the 8 Views (Mitate hakkei), Koman swimming in Lake Biwa is attacked from the Taira ceremonial barge by Sanemori

Title: Returning Sails (kihan, 帰帆)

Description: Koman (小万) swimming in Lake Biwa with the Minamoto banner is attacked from the Taira barge by Sanemori

Publisher: Ise-ya Ichibei

Robinson: T180

Another state of the above design

Kuniyoshi - (T181) Selections for the Eight Views, Autumn Moon at Kanzaki (Mitate hakkei, Kanazaki no shugwatsu)

Title: Autumn Moon at Kanzaki (Kanzaki no shûgwatsu, 神崎秋月)

Description: The boatman Matsuyemon (formerly Higuchi Jirô Kanemitsu) hurling a huge anchor

Publisher: Kojima-ya Jûbei (十 堀江 小嶋板), called “Koshima” in Robinson

Robinson: T181

Title: Evening Rain in the Gion Woods (Gionbayashi no ya-u, 祇園林夜雨)

Description: Taira no Tadamori (center) and the oil-thief (right)

Publisher: Iba-ya Sensaburô

Robinson: T182

 

NOTE:  This triptych is by Hiroshige–not Kuniyoshi.  However, it belongs to the same series–Mitate hakkei–as triptychs T176, T177, T178, T179, T180 and T181. 

 

“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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