Minamoto no Yorimitsu, by Yashima Gakutei

An image of Minamoto no Yorimitsu. Gakutei, Yashima (Japanese, 1786(?)-1868). Surimono. Colour print from woodblocks, with metallic pigment and blind embossing, circa 1820-circa 1823. Ukiyo-e. Poetry by Bunkyusha Shiragiku no Hoshimaru. Notes: From the series Katsushika nijushiko (Twenty-four Generals for the Katsushika Group). Minamoto no Yorimitsu (948-1021), usually known as Raiko, was the son of Tada no Mitsunaka. One day in 988, Jie Hua, daughter of the great Chinese archer Yang Yaojing, appeared to him in a dream. She said that her father had entrusted her with the secrets of archery to be transmitted to the most worthy. She disappeared, and on awakening Raiko found that she had left her father’s bow and arrows beside him. Raiko went on to rid Japan of pirates and bandits, which in legend became Ogres, Demons and Goblins. The poem reads: ‘In the first dream, Mount Fuji is the spring target; the catalpa bow drew the mist with its bowstring.’

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Minamoto no Yorimitsu. Gakutei, Yashima (Japanese, 1786(?)-1868). Surimono. Colour print from woodblocks, with metallic pigment and blind embossing, circa 1820-circa 1823. Ukiyo-e. Poetry by Bunkyusha Shiragiku no Hoshimaru. Notes: From the series Katsushika nijushiko (Twenty-four Generals for the Katsushika Group). Minamoto no Yorimitsu (948-1021), usually known as Raiko, was the son of Tada no Mitsunaka. One day in 988, Jie Hua, daughter of the great Chinese archer Yang Yaojing, appeared to him in a dream. She said that her father had entrusted her with the secrets of archery to be transmitted to the most worthy. She disappeared, and on awakening Raiko found that she had left her father’s bow and arrows beside him. Raiko went on to rid Japan of pirates and bandits, which in legend became Ogres, Demons and Goblins. The poem reads: ‘In the first dream, Mount Fuji is the spring target; the catalpa bow drew the mist with its bowstring.’

Image data

Accession Number: P.312-1937
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: 909 pixels
Processed with: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.0 (Windows)
Filesize: 975.53kB
Exposure time: 1/250
ISO Speed: 100
Fnumber: 20/1
Captured: 2017:09:04 09:54:30

Key words

19th Century archer archery arrows blind embossing bow and arrow colour printing costume Edo Period embossed embossing female Fitz_PDP Gakutei general Japan Japanese Jie Hua male metallic pigment military Minamoto no Yorimitsu pigment poem poetry poets print Raiko robes surimono ukiyo-e weapons woman woodblock woodcut Yashima Gakutei

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            "Minamoto no Yorimitsu, by Yashima Gakutei"
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