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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

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Details
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

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (Japanese, 1797-1861)

Related People

publisher: Iseya Ichi'emon (Japanese, active ca. 1823-1864)

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

Edo

Japanese woodblock prints

musha-e

nishiki-e

paper

relief printing

relief prints

triptychs

woodcuts

Description

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.

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