Kagekiyo Attempts to Assassinate Yoritomo at the Great Buddha Hall of Todai-ji Temple, circa 1845

by Kuniyoshi (1797 - 1861)

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Kagekiyo Attempts to Assassinate Yoritomo at the Great Buddha Hall of Todai-ji Temple, circa 1845 by Kuniyoshi (1797 - 1861)

Original Kuniyoshi (1797 - 1861) Japanese Woodblock Print
Kagekiyo Attempts to Assassinate Yoritomo at the Great Buddha Hall of Todai-ji Temple, circa 1845

Comments - Terrific depiction of the Taira commander Kagekiyo attempting to assassinate Minamoto no Yoritomo at the Great Buddha Hall of Todai-ji Temple in April 1190. Kagekiyo survived the Battle of Dan-o-ura, the decisive defeat of the Taira Clan by the Minamoto. Kagekiyo determined to kill Yoritomo, the leader of the Minamoto, so when he heard that Yoritomo would be visiting Todai-ji Temple in preparation for the reconstruction of the Great Buddha there, he decided to try to kill him while there. Disguising himself in monk's robes, he has made his way into the great hall, where he stops across from Yoritomo, gripping a naginata and glaring over his shoulder at his enemy. At right, a samurai has pulled off Kagekiyo's headdress, tumbling to the ground with it as Kagekiyo's identity is revealed. Samurai dressed in full armor lay in wait for the warrior, some hiding behind one of the giant pillars just inside the temple steps. Other men are lined up in the foreground, at left their arms outstretched at their sides, forming a human barricade. Terrific detail in the architectural setting and the expressive faces of the samurai. A great design Kuniyoshi design. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts has this image in its collection.

Artist - Kuniyoshi (1797 - 1861)

Image Size - 27 1/4" x 13 3/4"

Condition - This triptych with excellent color and detail. Three separate panels. Some minor wear and soiling at edges. A few small holes repaired from reverse. Please see photos for details. Nice overall.

A Country Estate - Over three days we’ll be offering the collection of a Japanese gentleman who collected primarily Yoshitoshi and Kuniyoshi prints of tales, warriors, and ghosts. We love those themes at Fuji Arts and Yoshitoshi and Kuniyoshi are two of our favorite artists. The prints are all fine early impressions with beautiful color. They’ve been stored only, never displayed.

The collection was brokered this fall by a contact of ours and came from the Japanese countryside where the collector lived. These prints have not been in the market in decades and are being offered at Fuji Arts for the first time outside Japan. Watch for the collection to post over three days. The collection will post in its entirety, about 60 designs, in three days.

Kagekiyo Attempts to Assassinate Yoritomo at the Great Buddha Hall of Todai-ji Temple, circa 1845 by Kuniyoshi (1797 - 1861)
Kagekiyo Attempts to Assassinate Yoritomo at the Great Buddha Hall of Todai-ji Temple, circa 1845 by Kuniyoshi (1797 - 1861)

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