Fujiwara no Yasumasa Playing His Flute in the Moonlight 

The motif here is the tale of mid-Heian Period (794–1185) nobleman Fujiwara no Yasumasa, and the great thief Hakamadare, as conveyed in the anthologies Konjaku Monogatarishu and Uji Shui Monogatari. On a chilly autumn night, Hakamadare is stalking the flute-playing Yasumasa with the intention of stealing his clothes, and yet he becomes so overcome by fear that he can’t bring himself to pounce. The thief tries to swipe with his sword and rush at his target, and yet Yasumasa does not flinch. Finally, Hakamadare is taken to Yasumasa’s house, where he is given clothing and lectured to about keeping himself safe.
Diagonal movement is emphasized in the painting by the long grass and Yasumasa’s sleeves, both blowing in the wind. The bandit leans in the opposite direction, creating a contrast with Yasumasa’s straight-backed posture. The viewer’s eye darts from Hakamadare’s hand gripping his sword to Yasumasa sideways glance at his assailant. In this way the tale of the strong-nerved nobleman who confounded the famous thief is captured in fine details.
(SAKAMOTO Kyoko)