The Fight on Gojobashi Bridge, Scene from "Gikei ki" (Life of Yoshitsune)
義経記五條橋之図
- Birth Year
- 1839
- Death Year
- 1892
- Date
- 1881 (published by Morimoto Junzaburo)
- Technique, Material, Format
- woodblock, set of three
- Dimension
- sheet (set of three): 36.4 x 71.8 cm
- Donor name
- Mr. Kato Eiichi
- Category
- Print by Japanese Artist
- Inventory Number
- 85-PRJ-131
This work depicts the famous encounter between Ushiwakamaru (later Minamoto no Yoshitsune) and Musashibo Benkei on Gojobashi Bridge in Kyoto, a scene that is also recounted in the children’s song “Ushiwakamaru.” Ushiwakamaru leaps onto the bridge railing and throws his fan at Benkei, who had intended to snatch Ushiwakamaru’s sword. With one foot on his robe, Benkei blocks the fan with the handle of his naginata sword and prepares to strike back.
Tsukioka Yoshitoshi became a disciple of Utagawa (Ichiyusai) Kuniyoshi at the age of 12. An ukiyo-e artist active during the late Edo Period (1603–1868), Kuniyoshi was known for highly dynamic paintings of warriors. This work inherits that style, and with a dramatic low viewpoint captures one instant in the encounter between these adversaries, with the full moon rising over Mount Hiei between them.
(KASHIWAGI Tomoh)