Kiyochika: Minamoto no Yoshiie Stays His Arrow due to Poetry Expertise of His Enemy (SOLD)
Artist: Kobayashi Kiyochika
Title: The Battle of the Koromo River During the Earlier Nine-Year (Zenkunen) War 前九年衣川合戦
Series: True Picture of Present and Past: With Reference to Ukiyo-e (kinko seiga ukiyoe ruikô no uchi)
Date: 1885
Saved by the poem! A warrior on horseback has strung his bow but relaxes it, pointing it towards a general in the middle distance, who looks back at him, holding no weapons. This is the famous scene of Minamoto no Yoshiie and Abe Sadato and their exchange of poetry.
Mutsu Province陸奥国, (present Miyagi-, Iwate-, and the part of Akita Prefectures) in northern Japan was ruled by the Abe Family 安倍氏 and Mutsu Fujiwara Family 陸奥藤原氏, and they had their residences in the southern part along the river Koromo 衣川of Iwate and the Ôu mountain range. In the eleventh century, the Abe started to neglect contributions to the court in Kyoto and were expanding their power. Therefore, the court sent Minamoto-no-Yoriyoshi 源頼義 and his son Minamoto-no-Yoshiie 源義家 to Mutsu Provice in 1051. The Abe were defeated in 1062.
The Collection of Stories in Mutsu (mutsu-wa-ki) 陸奥話記 tells the story: During the battle at Koromo-gawa 衣川Yoshiie was ready to release his bow, which is pointed at escaping Abe Sadatô 安倍貞任 and calling him in waka rhyming “koromo no tate wa horobinikeri”. To this first part of a waka poem, Sadatô answered “toshi o heshi ito no midare no kurushisani”. Yoshiie was very impressed by Tadatô’s waka ending as the man of culture and set back his arrow.
The translation of the first part by Yoshiie: They are at the River Koromo ,“Koromo” means clothes/costume. “the shield (=tate) of the Koromo has been torn apart” referring to the place where the Abe dominated is now defeated as if cloth torn by age. Then Sadatô’s answer also relates with the woven textile: ”In pain of strain caused by years had passed, threads get out of order/tangled”
Kiyochika catches the moment when Minamoto-no-Yoshiie on horseback has just stopped releasing an arrow, whereas Abe Sadatô running away, but has stopped and turns to Yoshiie to call out his answer, the last part of the waka poem.
As for the name of the battle: The whole war in Mutsu Provice lasted twelve years, followed another three years “Atos an-nen sen” 後三年戦. Therefore, It is said the name of the battle is called the “zen kyû-nen” battle, ‘zen’ 前 means the first part, followed by “ato” the latter part. Next to Kiyochika’s signature, there is another signature by Kurokawa Mayori, a scholar of Japan study, who has examined the contents. This diptych series is a collection of episodes and legends behind the historical scenes and features a frame of fine brocade patterns. With thanks to Michiko Sato-Grube for her research.
Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition. Mint.
Dimensions: ôban diptych (36.5 x 25.2 cm each sheet)
Publisher: Matsumoto Heikichi 松本平吉
Signature: Kobayashi Kiyochiga ga 小林清親画
SKU: KYC486