Yoshitoshi: “The Moon on Gojô Bridge” (gojô no tsuki) (Sold)

Artist: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
Title: “The Moon on Gojô Bridge” (gojô no tsuki)
Series: From “Snow, Moon and Flower of Bravery” (Buyu setsu-getsu-ka no uchi)
Date: 1867

This series shows three famous bravery scenes, relating to Minamoto-no-Yoshitsune and the battle sites of the snow, the moon and the flower. This triptych depicts the fighting scene of Benkei with Ushiwakamaru on the Gojô Bridge (Kyoto) in the moonlight when Benkei (Saitô Musashi-bô Benkei, ?-1189) who intends to get the long golden sword of Ushiwakamaru (onzôshi, young Minamoto-no-Yoshitsune 1159-1189) as the last sword for his collection of one thousand. In the center of the dramatic composition Benkei swings his ô-naginata, a long helberd, picking the robe of Ushiwakamaru, who swiftly jumps away in the left side of the composition. Protagonists relating this event are listed: behind Ushiwakamaru from right: Hira Jirôbô, Atago Eitarô, Kurama Sôjo-bô,Hikoyama Hikomae-bô and Omine Zenki; then in front fighting with Benkei are: Hiramine Sumô-bô on the right, Iitsuna Saburô in the center, and Ôyama Hôki-bô. They carry the faces of tengu, long-nosed goblins, which are considered also a kind of mountain god with magic power, disguised as a crow and kite and lived also on Mt. Kurama.

Dimensions: ôban triptych
Publisher: Ki-ya Sôjirô
Seal: carver’s seal: hori-kô Kengorô (on the left sheet), koizumi-hori (on the right sheet)
Signature: Ikkaisai Yoshitoshi ga

SKU: YOT268A