Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861)
Minamoto no Yorimasa Slaying the Nue, circa 1820-25
Woodblock print, triptych
Each sheet signed 'Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga'
Publisher: Yamamotoya Heikichi
Censor's seal: 'kiwame' (approved)
Date: circa 1820-25
Each sheet signed 'Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga'
Publisher: Yamamotoya Heikichi
Censor's seal: 'kiwame' (approved)
Date: circa 1820-25
Vertical oban, each sheet approx.:
38.3 x 26 cm. (15 ⅛ x 10 ¼ in.)
38.3 x 26 cm. (15 ⅛ x 10 ¼ in.)
£ 6,500.00
In dramatic fashion a nue, surrounded by a swirl of black clouds is pierced by an arrow fired from the bow of Gen Sammi Yorimasa (源三位頼政) (Minamoto no Yorimasa (1106-80))....
In dramatic fashion a nue, surrounded by a swirl of black clouds is pierced by an arrow fired from the bow of Gen Sammi Yorimasa (源三位頼政) (Minamoto no Yorimasa (1106-80)). It is then about to be finished off on the centre sheet with a sword brandished by Yorimasa's retainer, Ii no Hayata (猪早太廣直) (Ii Hayata Hironao). The soldier on the right panel is identified as Watanabe Tadashi (渡邉丁七唱).
The nue was a beast with the head of a monkey, the claws of a tiger, the back of a badger and a snake for a tail. It spent its nights on the roof of the Emperor’s palace concealed in a black cloud, causing the Emperor to become unwell and to be disturbed by strange noises on the palace roof at night. Famed for his skill as an archer, Minamoto no Yorimasa is called upon to help solve the problem and successfully shoots the creature down from the roof by firing into the black cloud. A fierce struggle follows and I no Hayata Hironao finally kills the monster with his sword.
Another impression of the same triptych is in The British Museum, museum number 2008,3037.19205, go to: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/A_2008-3037-19205
Another impression is also in the National Museums Scotland, museum refs. A.1887.745.68.3.46,
A.1887.745.68.3.47, and A.1887.745.68.3.48, go to:
https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/collection-search-results/woodblock-print/672703
https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/collection-search-results/woodblock-print/672704
https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/collection-search-results/woodblock-print/672705
The nue was a beast with the head of a monkey, the claws of a tiger, the back of a badger and a snake for a tail. It spent its nights on the roof of the Emperor’s palace concealed in a black cloud, causing the Emperor to become unwell and to be disturbed by strange noises on the palace roof at night. Famed for his skill as an archer, Minamoto no Yorimasa is called upon to help solve the problem and successfully shoots the creature down from the roof by firing into the black cloud. A fierce struggle follows and I no Hayata Hironao finally kills the monster with his sword.
Another impression of the same triptych is in The British Museum, museum number 2008,3037.19205, go to: https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/A_2008-3037-19205
See also B. W. Robinson, Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints, (Oxford, 1982), p. 169, T7
Another impression is also in the National Museums Scotland, museum refs. A.1887.745.68.3.46,
A.1887.745.68.3.47, and A.1887.745.68.3.48, go to:
https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/collection-search-results/woodblock-print/672703
https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/collection-search-results/woodblock-print/672704
https://www.nms.ac.uk/explore-our-collections/collection-search-results/woodblock-print/672705