Kihan (Returning Sails), from the series Mitate hakkei (Parody of the Eight Views)
Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Kihan (Returning Sails), from the series Mitate hakkei (Parody of the Eight Views), 1846, color woodblock print on paper; ōban nishiki-e; triptych, Museum Purchase: Funds provided by The Asian Art Council, public domain, 2012.61.1a-c
This work is not currently on view.
- Title
Kihan (Returning Sails), from the series Mitate hakkei (Parody of the Eight Views)
- Related Titles
original language: 帰帆
series (original language): 美盾八競
series (translated): Parody of the Eight Views
series (transliterated): Mitate hakkei
translated: Returning Sails
transliterated: Kihan
- Artist
- Related People
- Date
1846
- Period
Japan: Edo period (1615-1868)
- Medium
color woodblock print on paper; ōban nishiki-e; triptych
- Dimensions (H x W x D)
image: 13 13/16 in x 9 5/8 in; sheet: 13 13/16 in x 9 5/8 in
- Inscriptions & Markings
series title; title: 美盾八競 / 帰帆, printed in black ink within rectangular cartouche on red ground, upper right of right sheet Transliteration (Translation): Mitate hakkei / Kihan (Parody of the Eight Views, Returning Sails) Language: Japanese
artist's seal: [paulownia crest], printed in red intaglio within rectangular cartouce, lower right of right and center prints; lower left of left print Translation: [seal of the artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi 歌川国芳]
signature: 一勇斎国芳画, printed in black ink within gourd-shaped cartouche on red ground, lower right of right and center prints; lower left of left print Transliteration (Translation): Ichiyūsai Kuniyoshi ga (picture [by] Ichiyūsai Kuniyoshi) Language: Japanese
publisher's mark: 版元 / 伊勢市, printed in black ink within rectangular cartouche, lower left of right and center sheet; lower right of left sheet Transliteration (Translation): Hanmoto / Iseichi ([seal of the publisher Iseya Ichiemon 伊勢屋市右衛門]) Language: Japanese Description: Edo publisher, active ca. 1823-64.
censor's mark: 村田, printed in black relief within circular cartouche on reserve ground, lower right of right and center prints; lower left of left print Transliteration (Translation): Murata ([seal of the censor Murata Sahei 村田佐兵衛]) Language: Japanese Description: Single government censor (nanushi) seal in use between 1842-1846.
- Collection Area
Asian Art; Graphic Arts
- Category
Prints
Japanese Traditional Prints
- Object Type
relief print
- Culture
Japanese
- Credit Line
Museum Purchase: Funds provided by The Asian Art Council
- Accession Number
2012.61.1a-c
- Copyright
public domain
- Terms
This triptych is one of a series in which Kuniyoshi illustrates episodes from Japanese history, placing them in scenic spots at Lake Biwa. The titles of the prints are taken from poems, Eight Views of Biwa, which are in turn based on an older series of Chinese poems.
Two great warrior clans, the Taira and the Minamoto, vied for power in the third quarter of the twelfth century, engulfing much of the country in civil war. Kuniyoshi illustrates an episode from than era. The Minamoto warrior Koman, who had been entrusted with the white banner of the Minamoto armies, plunged into Lake Biwa in an effort to escape pursuit. By chance, he was discovered by a Taira general who was on the lake for a pleasure excursion. Koman refused to be rescued, so the Taira captain cut off his arm to capture the banner.