The Warrior Kusunoki Masatsura

Artist/Culture Toyohara Chikanobu (Japanese, 1838–1912)

Publisherpublished by Maruya Tetsujirō 丸屋鉄次郎 (Kobayashi Tetsujirō 小林鉄次郎) (Japanese, 19th century)

DateMeiji 19, 1896

Mediumink and color on paper

Dimensions35.2 x 25.6 cm (13 7/8 x 10 1/16 in.)

ClassificationsPrints

MarkingsArtist's seal: toshidama

Credit LineHarriet B. Bancroft Fund

Terms

Object number1988.159

DescriptionThe warrior Kusunoki Masatsura (1326-1348) was the son of Kusunoki Masashige (1294-1336) and both were loyal defenders of the emperors of the southern Court. As a young boy Masatsura defended his house from various creatures and spirits, as shown here. Later when he was about to go to his certain death in the Battle of Shijo Nawate, he carved out a poem on the door of a temple in Yoshino, using his arrowhead. In the upper pictorial inset Masatsura is shown inspecting his poem.
Conceiver of the image: Hashimoto Naoyoshi (=Chikanobu)
ProvenanceIsrael Goldman, London

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