{"product_id":"yoshikazu-yorimitsu-and-his-retainers-transfixed-by-battle-between-giant-serpent-and-bear","title":"Yoshikazu 芳員: Yorimitsu and his Retainers Transfixed by Battle Between Giant Serpent and Bear (RESERVED)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArtist:\u003c\/strong\u003e Utagawa Yoshikazu (active 1848-1870)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTitle: \u003c\/strong\u003ePicture of Yorimitsu Watching a Monster in a Mountain Wilderness (Yorimitsu sanchû yôkai o miru zu 頼光山中妖怪見る図)  \u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDate:\u003c\/strong\u003e ca. 1847-1852\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eMinamoto no Yorimitsu (Raiko) and his retainers are stopped short as they spy a battle between a giant snake and an enormous bear-like creature, the bear forcing open the toothed jaws of the serpent. Magical (fatal?) flames emit from the serpent and blood drips from its jaws.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThis triptych depicts the scene of Minamoto-no-Yorimitsu 源頼光 and Shitenn’nô 四天王, The Four Heavenly Kings, namely his four brave retainers, watching the fight of a monster snake, which is entwined around a tall tree on the opposite side of a ravine, against a bear. Yorimitsu stands high on the rocky mountain; just below him is\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eWatanabe no Tsuna 渡辺綱 in front, with a long bow; Sakata Kintoki 坂田金時 behind him also with a long bow; Urabe -no-Suketake ト部秀武 closely behind him in pale blue sleeveless jacket. Usui Sadamitsu 臼井貞光 stands to the left of Yorimitsu. The expression of “Four Heavenly Kings\"\u003ci\u003e (Shitenno) \u003c\/i\u003erefers to the four guardians of the Buddhist law.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThis scene depicts not the usual story of Yorimitsu and the Shiten‘nô slaying the monster, but instead shows the trick of the notorious bandit Hakama-dare Yasusuke 袴垂保輔, who attempts to steal their belongings while they are transfixed by the dramatic fight. This subject was popular at that time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eWith the action on the rightmost and leftmost sheets showing Yorimitsu and his retainers against the monster‘s fight, they are separated by a deep gorge with steep cliffs and a spooky-looking mountain peak in the distance.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eThe dramatic scenery indicates that they are immersed in a remote, untamed wilderness, the wet rocks (in blue) suggest the cool dampness of the air. Colorful maple leaves in orange and yellow contrast with the dark forest and rocky background.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eIt was the time of mid-\u003ci\u003eHeian\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ePeriod (Heian Period 794-1185) when the protagonists of this print were active, serving\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003ethe Imperial Palace in Heian (Kyoto). It was the time the Imperial House was the nominal head of the country and the Fujiwara Clan had the actual power. Professional warriors were forming and rising slowly around the members of the court aristocracy, connecting to the Imperial Court, which did not possess its own army, so the local power holders became the primary source of the military. Among them the Fujiwara, Taira, and Minamoto Clans were\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e \u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003ethe most prestigious families, all of whom had descended from the Imperial families, claiming the control over the vast tracts of conquered land.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eMinamoto no Yorimitsu (\u003c\/i\u003eor\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eRaiko)\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e(948-1021) served the regents of the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eFujiwara\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eClan and was one of the earliest historical figures for the military exploits; he was also known for quelling the bandits of Mt. Óe and other monstrous creatures which troubled the people.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e(With thanks to Ms. Michiko Sato-Grube for her scholarship and translation here.)\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e   \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition: \u003c\/strong\u003eExcellent impression, color and condition. Some edges have minor trimming. \u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e ôban triptych (approx. 36.5 x 25 cm each sheet)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher: \u003c\/strong\u003eTsujioka-ya Bunsuke　辻岡屋文助\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSignature:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ichijusai Yoshikazu ga 一寿斎芳員\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Utagawa Yoshikazu","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42433050935378,"sku":"YKZ025","price":4600.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0079\/3388\/6546\/files\/YKZ025.jpg?v=1780457223","url":"https:\/\/egenolfgallery.com\/products\/yoshikazu-yorimitsu-and-his-retainers-transfixed-by-battle-between-giant-serpent-and-bear","provider":"Egenolf Gallery Japanese Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}