Tomoe-jo, by Yashima Gakutei

An image of Tomoe-jo. Gakutei, Yashima (Japanese, 1786(?)-1868). Surimono. Colour print from woodblocks, with metallic pigment and blind embossing, circa 1820-circa 1823. Ukiyo-e.. Poetry by Bunsuisha Aya (?) and Bunchosha Hanabito. Notes: From the series of legendary heroines Katsushikaren gakumen fujin awase (Framed paintings of women for the Katsushika Group). Tomoe Gozen, the wife of General Kiso no Yoshinaka, was herself a legendary warrior and accompanied her husband into battle. After his death in 1184, accounts differ as to whether she retired to a nunnery or lived with another warrior, Wada no Yoshimori. The popular pattern called tomoe, used for crests and roof-tiles and consisting of wave-shaped forms arranged in a circle, was named after her. She was also a skilful wrestler. The first poem reads: ‘The reflection of the tomoe tiles floats in the well. Let us wrestle and fill one bucket with the young water of the New Year.’

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Tomoe-jo. Gakutei, Yashima (Japanese, 1786(?)-1868). Surimono. Colour print from woodblocks, with metallic pigment and blind embossing, circa 1820-circa 1823. Ukiyo-e.. Poetry by Bunsuisha Aya (?) and Bunchosha Hanabito. Notes: From the series of legendary heroines Katsushikaren gakumen fujin awase (Framed paintings of women for the Katsushika Group). Tomoe Gozen, the wife of General Kiso no Yoshinaka, was herself a legendary warrior and accompanied her husband into battle. After his death in 1184, accounts differ as to whether she retired to a nunnery or lived with another warrior, Wada no Yoshimori. The popular pattern called tomoe, used for crests and roof-tiles and consisting of wave-shaped forms arranged in a circle, was named after her. She was also a skilful wrestler. The first poem reads: ‘The reflection of the tomoe tiles floats in the well. Let us wrestle and fill one bucket with the young water of the New Year.’

Image data

Accession Number: P.303-1937
Photograph copyright © The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
Aperture: f/20.0
Focal length: 120
Camera: Hasselblad H4D-31
Photographer name: Sam Cole
Image height: 1025 pixels
Image width: 916 pixels
Processed with: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.0 (Windows)
Filesize: 942.18kB
Exposure time: 1/250
ISO Speed: 100
Fnumber: 20/1
Captured: 2017:09:04 10:12:00

Key words

19th Century blind embossing colour printing costume Edo Period embossed embossing female Fitz_PDP Gakutei hero heroes heroic heroine heroism Japan Japanese metallic pigment military pigment poem poetry poets print surimono Tomoe-jo ukiyo-e warriors weapons woman woodblock woodcut wrestlers wrestling Yashima Gakutei

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            "Tomoe-jo, by Yashima Gakutei"
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