Kuniyoshi 国芳: Taira Kiyomori Uses Incantations to Delay the Sunset 平相国清盛入道

Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi 国芳 (1798-1861)
Title: Kiyomori of the Taira Clan, the retired Grand Chancellor(Dajô daijin) and Buddhist monk (Heishôkoku Kiyomori-Nyûdô 平相国清盛入道) Date: 1842-1843

From the samurai epic The Tale of the Heike, Taira no Kiyomori displays his power over the outer universe to delay the setting of the sun. He had ordered that completion of the Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima be completed in a single day, and when time ran out he used his overwhelming worldly power to stop its final descent. Its remarkable that the rays of the setting sun are extending only in Tadamori’s direction. Here we see him surrounded by his courtiers on a fabulous palace with a cantilevered verandah that overlooks the ocean. Yoshitoshi also included a memorable design of this scene in his “Mirror of Famous Generals” series.

This triptych reiterates the greatness of Taira-no-Koyomori, who although from a warrior lineage, ascended to become the Grand Chancellor ‘Dajô daijin 太政大臣’, the de facto ruler of Japan in 1167. He is shown in the center, standing on the stage-like balcony of the Itsukushimi Shrine, at which Kiyomori himself worshipped and had rebuilt in this shinden style 寝殿造りin 1168. On the left sheet Kuniyoshi captures the great moment of the setting sun in the crimson glow over the horizon of the Inland Sea, Seto-nai-kai. Kiyomori is standing and raises a ceremonial fan in his hand. This scene is based on a legend called ‘the Ondo-no-Seto strait‘ where Kiyomori stopped the setting sun so that the day’s work at the Ondo Strait construction site, part of the Itsukushima Shrine could be completed. 

We see surrounding him a crowd of high-ranking officers related to the Heike Monogatari. The above left inset text introduces one of the legends related to Kiyomori as the unacknowledged son of Emperor Shirakawa and Lady Consort of Gion, Awano-tsubone 阿波局, which is told in the sixth chapter of The Story of Hei-ke, Heike-monogatari. A rough translation of the text as follows: Monk of Heisô-koku is the unacknowledged son of Emperor Shirakawa born by Gion Nyôgo. His father, Tadamori, was awarded Gion Nyôgo by the Emperor as a prize for catching the monk who tended the temple lamps (who encountered the Emperor as ghost-like figure when the emperor  was secretly on the way to visit Gion Nyôgo.) Later she gave birth to Kiyomori. As a baby Kiyomori used to cry during the night. However, the crying stopped when she received a poem composed by the Emperor, wishing him to prosper (mori 盛) in purity (Kiyo 清) in his future life. Kiyomori‘s military victory gave him promotion to the highest position and he governed all affairs of state. He built up an island in Hyôgo and gave the name, Kyô-no-shima (Island of Sutras). In the third month of the third year of Ôhou (応保,1163) as a start he had sutras carved on stones and completed without any difficulties. Since then the troubles on the sea, storms and high waves were calmed. He left his great deed for the coming generations.”

Since Kiyomori was the first samurai ruler who climbed to the position of ‘Dajô daijin, the legend was created so that Kiyomori was actually a prince in the lineage of the emperor. It is also said that Awano-tsubone cared Kiyomori lovingly, and he never forgot her. Later he gave her an honorable position, as here she is depicted as a lady holding his sword behind him in somewhat Shinto servant clothing (normally shown in pure white, though here in gray patterned as married and red hakama skirts).

Kiyomori had put his efforts  into improve sea traffic in the Seto Inland Sea, where the Itsukushima Shrine, Miyazima, Hiroshima is situated..

Numerous courtly figures are depicted in formal official attire:. Next to his right, seated Awano-tsubone with his sword and his left seated figures: Yaheibei Munekiyo 弥平兵衛宗清、Akushichi-bei Kagekiyo悪七兵衛景清.

Behind Awano-tsubone, six along the railing: Musashi Saburô-zaemon Arikuni武蔵三郎左衛門有国、Udaijin Taira-no-Munemori右大臣平宗盛、Awaji-no-kami  Kiyofusa淡路守清房、Ecchû-Zenji Moritoshi越中前司盛俊、Hida-hangan Kagetaka飛騨判官景隆、Sanmi-chûshô Koremori三位中将維盛。

Six figures bowing: Satsuma-no-kami Tadanori薩摩守忠度、Mikawa-no-kami Tomokazu三河守知数、Kôgô-gû Suketsune皇后官亮経正、Komatsu-no-shôshô Sukemori小松少将資盛、? Atsumori？大夫敦盛、Sanmi Tsunemori三位経盛、

Seated two figures: Echizen Sanmi Michinari越前三位通成、Komatsu-naifu Shigemori小松内府重盛. Two standing figures：Shin-chûnagon Tomonori新中納言知盛、Noto-no-kami Noritsune能登守教経. At the back:Kiku-ô-maru菊王丸. Note that a faded example of this triptych sold at Christie’s in August 2014 for 5000 British pounds.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition. Completely untrimmed and unbacked. A few stray marks on leftmost sheet, and some very minor wrinkles. Dimensions: ôban triptych (37.5 x 25.5 cm each sheet)
Publisher: Tsuji Yasu 辻安：Tsuji-ya Yasubei 辻屋安兵衛

Literature: Robinson (1982) #T83 and Plate 41. See British Museum, MFA Boston website.  Signature: Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga 一勇斎國芳画

SKU: KUY647