Comments - Dramatic illustration of the great general Kato Kiyomasa (Watonai) confronting a tiger in Korea. Kiyomasa was one of the three senior commanders during the Seven-Year War with Korea, and he had the opportunity to hunt tigers while there. In the center, he forces the animal to the ground, holding its neck down with one hand as he draws back the other in a fist, ready to punch the tiger. At right, a leopard snarls ferociously as a samurai jabs it with his spear, mauled and bloody body parts on the ground nearby. At lower right, several men tumble over themselves in their haste to get away, while behind them, a tiger and a leopard climb the steep hillside, one of the dragging a lifeless samurai in his mouth. A fantastic image with wonderful detail in the armor and the tiger's fur, in an atmospheric night setting. A great depiction of this legendary event.

Artist - Yoshifusa (active circa 1840 - 1860)

Image Size - 14" x 28 5/8" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Three attached panels. Tear and thinning at bottom left of center panel, thinning and losses along right edge of right panel, a few holes and thinning spots, repaired. Slight softening of paper near edges, creasing. Please see photos for details.