Heroic Stories of the Taiheiki - Few other Japanese woodblock printmakers ever matched Kuniyoshi's detail and artistry in the genre of warrior prints. Published between 1847 - 1850, Kuniyoshi's fantastic series, "Heroic Stories of the Taiheiki (Grand Pacification)," presents fifty full-length portraits of famous warriors involved in the closing period of the civil wars in 16th century Japan, just before unification of the country. These dramatic images show these leaders engaged in battle or posing heroically in all their military glory. Kuniyoshi captures the unique aspects of each warrior, with texts above detailing their heroic careers. To evade the prohibitions enacted in 1804 against depicting historic figures who lived after 1573, each warrior has a pseudonym that would have been easily recognized by the viewers of the time. The actual name of the individual is provided in parentheses. These prints are a great opportunity to collect a part of Japanese history, dynamically documented by the leading master of warrior prints.

Hida Magobyoye Masatoshi (Kida Magobei) - Terrific portrait of the warrior Kida Magobei in battle against the Koreans, wielding a spear with both hands. Known for his sumo wrestling skills, he won 35 matches before being beaten by the great daimyo Kato Kiyomasa, whose retainer he then became. He is shown here in a dramatic pose, a sword flying through the air at his head, with weapons and helmets scattered at his feet. A dynamic composition with the diagonals of the weapons adding energy and excitement to the scene. A great choice for a samurai enthusiast.

Artist - Kuniyoshi (1797 - 1861)

Image Size - 14" x 10"

Condition - This print with excellent detail as shown. Backed with paper. Stitching holes at side, tear, repaired. Slight rubbing, a few creases. Please see photos for details.