Courageous Leaders in Thirty-six Battles
(Yûkwai sanjûrokkassen, 勇魁三十六合戦)
Publisher: Izumi-ya Ichibei
1851-1852
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The total number of prints in this series is unknown, but is probably fewer than thirty-six. They are each about 10 by 14 inches (25 by 36 centimeters), a size known as ôban. |
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Scene: The encounter
between Takeda Shingen (武田 信玄) and Uesugi
Kenshin (上杉 謙信) in the river
at Kawanakajima with Hatsukano
Denemon (初鹿根伝右衛門) behind them Robinson: S73.2 NOTE: Takeda Shingen
is holding his famous banner which reads, “Swift as the wind, silent as a
forest, fierce as fire and immovable as a mountain”, taken from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. I am grateful to Geoff Dunn for this image. |
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Scene: Nitta Yoshisada (新田 義貞,) throwing his
sword into the sea as an offering to calm the waves Robinson: S73.4 I am grateful to John Rose and Auction Ukiyo-e Ltd. for this
image. |
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Another state of the above design with a black mountain in the
distance |
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Scene: Sasaki Takatsuna (佐々木 高綱) and Kajiwara Kagesue (梶原 景季) at the
crossing of the Uji River Robinson: S73.5 |
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Another state of the above design |
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Scene: Kiso
Yoshinaka (木曾 義仲) attempting to
escape across the frozen bog, which breaks up beneath him, after the battle
of Awadzu-gahara; the fatal arrow is already on its
way and Kanemitsu fights of pursuers in the background Robinson: S73.8 |
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Another state of the above design with a yellow horizon |
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Scene: Kusunoki
Masatsura (樟正行) and Wada
Masatomo (和田正朝) under a hail of
arrows in their last stand at the Battle of Shijô-nawate
in 1348 Robinson: S73.8 bis (listed in supplement) NOTE: This print is
unsigned. |
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I am grateful to Robert Pryor for this alternate state without bokashi
on the bottom and with the publisher’s seal in a different position. |
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Scene: Yûki Shichirô (結城七郎), Shinkai Arajirô (土肥次郎) and Adachi Tokurô (安達 藤九朗) are urging
Minamoto no Yoritomo (源 頼朝,) and his
followers to hide in a hollow tree after the Battle of Ishibashiyama
while Doi Jirô (土肥次郎) is watching
for the approaching enemy Robinson: S73.9 |
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Another state of the above design with a yellow title cartouche |
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Scene: Ichirai-hôshi (一来 法師) and Tsutsui Jômyô (筒井浄明) defending a
partly dismantled bridge at the first battle of the Uji River between Yorimasa and Tomomori in 1180 Robinson: S73.10 |
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Scene: Satô Tadanobu (佐藤 忠信) wearing Yoshitsune’s armor and leaping down on Yokogawa Kakuhan (横川覺範) at Yoshino Robinson: S73.11 Image courtesy of John Rose and Auction Ukiyo-e |
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Another state of the above design as a night scene |
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Another state with a blue title cartouche |
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Scene: Prince
Oto-no-miya Morinaga-shinno
(大塔の宮), wounded
after a battle, drinking sake with his followers while Kodera Sagami-bo (小寺相模坊) entertains
him with a dance Robinson: S73.13 |
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Another state of the above design with a green title cartouche |
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Scene: The “reversed
oars” dispute between Yoshitsune (源 義経, right) and
Kajiwara Kagetoki (梶原 景時) before the
Battle of Yashima Robinson: S73.13 bis (listed in supplement) |
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Scene: Izumi Saburô Chikahira (泉三郎親衡) shooting an
arrow across the river into Hôjô’s encampment Robinson: S73.14 |
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Scene: Kumagai Naozane (熊谷 直実) watches Taira
Atsumori (平 敦盛) fleeing on
horseback to the waiting Taira ships while Satsuma no Kami Tadanori (薩摩守忠度) grapples
Okabe Rokuyata Tadazumi (岡部六弥太忠澄) at Ichinotani Robinson: S73.15 |
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No image
available Scene: Asahina
Saburô (朝比奈 三朗) breaking down
the gate of the shogun’s palace in his attack on Hôjô
Yoshitoki (北条 義時) Robinson: S73.16 |
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Scene: Yoshinaka (義仲) sending oxen
with flaming straw attached to their horns against the panicked Taira in the
Battle of Kurikaradani Robinson: S73.28 |
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Scene: Kusunoki
Masatsura (正行) presenting a
farewell cup of sake to his father
Masashige (正成) while all present weep Robinson: S73.33 |
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Scene: Shirafuji Hikoshichirô (白藤彦七郎) confronting
his horse on a dike while Taka-uji (尊氏) takes refuge
in a shrine in the background Robinson: S73.36 |
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Another state of the above design |
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“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
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