Kuniyoshi 国芳: Fujiwara no Tadabumi Fuming After Being Struck (藤原忠文)

Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798-1861) 国芳
Title: Fujiwara no Tadabumi (藤原忠文)

Series: Thirty-six Honorable Battles (Eimei Sanjuroku Kassen) 英名三十六合戦 
Date:  1847-1850 Size: oban (37.5 x 25.5 cm)

Fujiwara no Tadabumi frowns as he looks over his shoulder at a fancy pavilion in the middle distance, where court members are glimpsed in a sort of conclave. His forehead has red mark from being struck, and cherry trees are blooming all around, with the petals falling down around him. Gourd vines encircle the title cartouche. He was a military commander living in the 10th century (Heian period), and was sent to suppress the rebel Taira no Masakado in 939. The rebel Taira was killed before Tadabumi arrived, so when Tadabumi returned to the imperial court in Kyoto, powerful courtiers, including Fujiwara no Saneyori, argued that Tadabumi deserved no recognition nor reward. Since Tadabumi received only humiliation instead of reward, we can see how tales must have arisen regarding him being physically struck. He was apparently so filled with bitterness that he became a vengeful ghost (onryo) in the afterlife, so he was called later the “Evil Spirit Minister”. As usual, Kuniyoshi has masterfully told the tale visually so that even those of us who cannot read the Japanese text have a good idea of the crux of the story. It’s possible that the gourd vine references the ghostly afterlife tales associated with Tadabumi.

Only eleven works in this series of 36 seem to have been published, and this design is from the first edition as it bears the rectangular publisher’s mark at bottom left.

Condition: Excellent impression and color. Very good condition. Unbacked. 
Publisher:  Ise-Ichi  Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga
Literature: Robinson S61.1. See British Museum.

SKU: KUY646