Taira Tadanori Composing a Poem under a Cherry Tree

Artist Kobayashi Kiyochika 小林清親 (Japanese, 1847–1915)

Date1894

Mediumwoodblock print; ink and color on paper; oban triptych

Dimensions36.9 x 72.7 cm (14 1/2 x 28 5/8 in.)

ClassificationsPrints

Credit LineHarriet B. Bancroft Fund

Terms

Object number1985.39

DescriptionRegistered May, 1894
Label Text2003-04-03: Kobayashi Kiyochika (Japanese, 1847-1915) Taira Tadanori Composing a Poem under a Cherry Tree Registered May 1894 Woodblock print, ink and color on paper; oban triptych Harriet B. Bancroft Fund, 1985.39 (a-b-c) Taira Tadanori (1144-84) was a strong, reliable and respected general who excelled in the "way of the bow and horse." He was also a skilled poet who had studied with the renowned court poet Fujiwara no Shunzei and had contributed verses to several imperially sponsored anthologies. In March 1184, while on the road with troops to Ichi-no-tani to reinforce the Taira-clan fortress against the impending Minamoto-clan attack, Tadanori found himself spending the night under an old cherry tree. Taking off most of his armor, his bow next to him, he sat cross-legged, enjoying the blossoms. Petals drifting in the breeze and perhaps a faint premonition of his own death the following day-may have inspired Tadanori to compose a poem. He wrote these words on the poem-slip placed before him on the ground: Overtaken by darkness I take shelter under the boughs of this tree. The flowers alone will be my host. Tadanori was killed during the Battle of Ichi-no-tani by a Minamoto partisan who, seeing that Tadanori's teeth were blackened in the courtier-manner, recognized him as a high-ranking Taira warrior. Tadanori's poem-slip is depicted in the upper right of the print. It was discovered, fastened to his quiver. Notes:Samurai SpiritProvenanceRobin Kennedy, London

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