Utagawa Kuniyoshi (歌川国芳) (artist 11/15/1797 – 03/05/1861)

Kido Takuzaemon Nagachika (木戸宅左衛門長近 - actually Kido Sakuemon [木戸作右衛門]) from the series Heroes of the Great Peace(Taiheiki eiyūden - 太平記英勇傳)

Print

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Date:ca 1848 – 1849
Dimensions:9.875 in x 14.5 in (Overall dimensions) Medium:Japanese woodblock print
Inscription:Signed: Ichiyūsai Kuniyoshi ga
一勇斎国芳画
Artist's seal: kiri
Publisher: Yamamotoya Heikichi
(Marks 595 - seal 04-007)
Censor seals: Mera and Murata
Text: Ryūkatei Tanekazu (柳下亭種員)
Links British Museum
Ashmolean Museum, Oxford
Muzeum Sztuki i Techniki Japońskiej Manggha, Krakow Description:The Ashmolean Museum curatorial files say of this print:

‘Kido Nagachika’ was a brave vassal of Konishi Yukinaga, 1558-1600, (here Kotachi Yukitaka), lord or Udo castle (called here Uda) in Higo. ‘Nagachika’, served with distinction during eight years service in ‘foreign countries’ (presumably meaning Korea) under Yukinaga. At one battle, when Yukitaka attacked the Tōdaimon (main entrance) of the castle of Seoul, ‘Nagachika’ compelled one of the captured enemies to guide him to the further side of the castle, where there was a water gate, a metal grid. He was able to force this gate, allowing the army of Yukinaga to enter and capture the castle.

This print shows ‘Nagachika’ using a wooden pole strapped in rope, trying to lever open the water gate.

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The text on this print as reported in Varshavskaya's book on page 150 is:

Kido Nagachika was a brave vassal of Konichi Yukitaka, the lord of Uta castle in Higo province. He was unparalleled in wisdom and courage. It is hard to enumerate the militry feats he accomplished in Yukitaka's service. Among the countless hard battles fought during the long campaign in the foreign country (Korea) it happened once that Konichi wished to separately [lead his troops] from Chūshū through the Large Eastern Gates - Tōdaimon, and so he departed there. When [his army] attained that place, [the men] could not easily enter through the stronghold which appeared impregnable. Takuzaemon made a captive serve as their guide and attempted a detour bearing far to the east, but the gates across the waterway turned out to be barred by an iron lattice. Seeing that, Takuzaemon separated the gun-stocks from the gun-barrels; with a rope he fastened ten barrels together, thrust them into the lattice aperture and exhibiting the power of Kongōrikishi, pushed them down. Here even so strong a water gate all at once collapsed. From there Konichi with his army after a short hand-to-hand fight captured the imperial castle. Yukitaka's troops emerged superior, they performed a great exploit, and this happened thanks to Nagachika's prowess.

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Illustrated:

1) in a full-page color reproduction in Heroes of the grand pacification: Kuniyoshi's Taiheiki eiyū den by Elena Varshavskaya, Hotei Publishing, 2005, p. 151.

2) in black and white in 'Pictorial formulae of martial attributes in Kuniyoshi's warrior prints' by Elena Varshavskaya in Andon, September 1998, fig. 9, p. 7. Varshavskaya wrote on page 9: "Physical might of warriors can also be demonstrated by presenting them with objects of extraordinary weight. There are several instances of this kind in the Taiheiki series. We will deal with two of them, both referring to events of the Korean war. Kido Takuzaemon Nagachika (fig. 9), whose real name was Kido Sakuzaemon Norishige, is depicted breaking the grill of the water-gate. The events this print is based on took place in 1592 on the fourth day of the war during the attack of Chushu (Chikujo) castle. There was a discussion between the two chief military commanders of the Japanese army, Konishi Yukinaga and Kato Kiyomasa, how to reach the palace. Finally each of the armies went its own way. Yukinaga arrived at Higashi Daimon on the eve of Kato 's arrival at Nishi Daimon, but Yukinaga seemed to be unable to exploit his advantage as a massive water-gate 15 shaku in height (ca. 6 m) stood in the way of his forces. It was here that Kido Norishige, a vassal of Yukinaga, demonstrated his extraordinary strength. He took ten cylindrical metal gun-stands, bound them together with a rope and "helping himself with a shout he made an effort worthy of Kongorikishi", thus crushing the water-gate, firm as it was."

"His portrait belongs to the best of its kind. Depicted in all the splendour of his armour, which enhances the massiveness of his body, Kido's strain is emphasizes by his posture, with all his weight concentrated on the right shoulder and using the gun-stands as an immense lever."

"Before passing on to the next example of the same pictorial device being applied, there is another martial aspect to be mentioned briefly here - it will receive more attention later - the ferocious expression of a hero's face. It cannot but resemble the faces of the Buddhist protectors of the faith including even the depiction of fangs protruding from Kido's tightened mouth. In this case we come across a double allusion to Buddhist imagery, both literary (in the text accompanying the print quoted above he is compared to Kongorikishi) and visual."

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The text is by Ryūkatei Tanekazu (1807-58).
Related entities Yamamotoya Heikichi (山本屋平吉) (publisher)
warrior prints (musha-e - 武者絵) (genre)
Taiheiki (太平記) (genre)
Ryūkatei Tanekazu (柳下亭種員 - 1807-58) (author)

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