Utagawa Kuniyoshi (歌川国芳) (artist 11/15/1797 – 03/05/1861)
Hayashi Tanshirō Taketoshi (林丹四郎武俊) from the series Heroes of the Great Peace (Taiheiki eiyuden - 太平記英勇傳)
1849
9.75 in x 14.375 in (Overall dimensions) Japanese woodblock print
Signed: Ichiyūsai Kuniyoshi ga
一勇斎国芳画
Artist's seal: kiri
Publisher: Yamamotoya Heikichi
(Marks 595 - seal 04-007)
Censors: Mera and Murata
Muzeum Sztuki i Techniki Japońskiej Manggha, Krakow
Museum of Oriental Art, Venice (via Ritsumeikan University)
British Museum
Náprstek Museum
Kunstpalast Düsseldorf Illustrated:
1) in color in Samurai Stars of the Stage and Beautiful Women: Kunisada and Kuniyoshi, Masters of the Color Woodblock Print by Hatje Cantz, Museum Kunstpalast, p. 191. There is also another very small colored reproduction of this print on page 270, #169.
Part of the text of this entry states: "This sheet shows the last heroic feat by the historical Hayashi Hanshirō Taketoshi. We see how he simultaneously strangles two opponents during the battle of Uchideno Hama. That same day, he fell at the side of his commander, Akechi Mitsuharu, an opponent of Toyotomi [Hideyoshi]."
2) in a full-page color reproduction in Heroes of the grand pacification: Kuniyoshi's Taiheiki eiyūden by Elena Varshavskaya, Hotei Publishing, 2005, p. 129.
Varshavskaya gives the translation of the text as:
Among Samaosuke's... vassals [Hayashi Tanshirō Taketoshi] was unsurpassed in bravery. At the time when [Samanosuke's] own lord... died in action in the suburbs of the capital, [Hayashi Tanshirō Taketoshi] together with Samanosuke Mitsutoshi... were in the castle of Ajichi... in Ōmi province. With things having turned this way, they [together with the small force they had] were going to get into Takamoto castle... of the same province. They reached Uchidenohama... when unexpectedly they fell in with the enemy and a several-hour-log fight occurred there. The remnant troops, a mere sixteen warriors, were attacked by he enemies that came on in swarms and surrounded Samanosuke's small force to let none of the men survive. At that moment from behind Mitsutoshi's back a warrior, swaying, stepped forward. The army was looking at him. He seemed thirty-seven - thirty-eight years of age, his height was over six haku... and one could see he was ready to fight furiously. He tore off his left and right ōsode - shoulder guards, and his kusazuri - protective skirt, throwing them two or three ken away. He pulled off his helmet, his ruffled side-whiskers getting rough, his black eyes becoming round, his hair and moustache standing on end, and his long sword (nodachi) with the blade of over six shaku in length readied. Raking his hair with his left hand, having raised his voice in semblance to the roar of a temple bell, he thundered: 'Have you heard of a brave warrior of Toki's... vassals - during the past subjugation of Tanba province he was called demon-of-a-warrior. He defeated Akai Akuemon, winning resounding fame for this. His name was Hayashi Tanshirō Taketoshi, and that was me.' Saying this, he brandished his sword (nodachi) and in a twinkling of an eye killed many enemies. Now, when there was nothing else that he could do, he seized two enemies who happened to be close at hand to his right and left, jumped into the waters of the lake and disappeared. That is how a warrior who intimidated the world fell in battle.Varshavskaya in describing this print said: "Hayashi Tanshirō Taketoshi is shown during the battle of Uchidenohama, a small but severe engagement of historical significance. This fight followed immediately after the battle fo Yamazaki and completed defeat of Akechi Mitsuhide's army. According to a fictionalised account of the events, Hayashi Taketoshi ran out into the battlefield and announced that he intended to take everyone standing in his way 'to the king of the underworld.' The print shows Hayashi Hanshirō [his real historical name] ready to fulfil his threat. He easily carries two warriors in full armour, having squeezed them under his arms so violently that their faces turned grey from suffocation."
3) in color in Catalogue of Japanese Art in the Náprstek Museum published by The International Research Center for Japanese Studies: Nichibunken Japanese Studies Series 4, 1994, p. 94.
4) in black and white in 'Pictorial formulae of martial attributes in Kuniyoshi's warrior prints' by Elena Varshavskaya in Andon, September 1998, fig. 14, p. 13. Varshavskaya wrote on page 12: "Most skillful is also the composition of the print showing Hayashi Tanshiro Taketoshi (fig. 14), named Hayashi Hanjiro Taketoshi in the print. A warrior of the army struggling against Hideyoshi in the cruel battle at Uchide no hama, at a certain moment he ran out into the battlefield and announced that he was going to offer everyone who was standing in his way to Emma, the king of the underworld. A great number of warriors were defeated by him that day, at the end of which, tired and wounded, he took his own life. The moment depicted in the print shows Hayashi Hanjiro fulfilling his threat and carrying two of his victims to the world of the dead. It is not only the fierce face of the hero but also the grey and suffocating faces of his victims squeezed under his arms that reveal the enormous might of the main character."
"This impression seems to have been primarily achieved by the unusual massiveness of his silhouette formed by three sets of armour brought together. The plates are turned in such a way as to form a nearly circular colourful spot, with the heads incorporated into the pattern, and the legs and swords protruding to the sides. Not only is the atmosphere of a ruthless skirmish mixing up everything masterfully rendered but a composition remarkable for its boldness, compactness and decorative qualities is created."
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Uchidenohama is Uchide beach of Lake Biwa.
Yamamotoya Heikichi (山本屋平吉) (publisher)
warrior prints (musha-e - 武者絵) (genre)
Taiheiki (太平記) (genre)