Yoshitsune’s ship is attacked by ghosts of the Taira warriors at Daimotsu Bay

ca. 1851

Japanese, 1797-1861

The subject of this dramatic print is drawn from the Noh drama known as Benkei in the Boat. The rival clans of Minamoto and Taira engaged in battles for years until the Taira were defeated in a decisive sea battle. In this print, the Minamoto clan’s general, Yoshitsune, and his men are sailing on a rough sea, where the Taira drowned during the battle. The ghosts of the Taira clan resurface to attack the rival Minamoto clan. The Minamoto clan’s heroic warrior Benkei, seen on the stern of the ship, repulses the ghosts. The dramatic waves bring this visual drama to a climax.

Color woodblock print; ōban tate-e triptych

Each sheet: 14 1/4 x 9 1/2 in. (36.2 x 24.1 cm)

Purchased with funds from the Asian Art Council

2014.19.2

Provenance: Private collection, New York; [Sebastian Izzard, New York, New York by 2014]

Image supplied by gallery

Not currently on view

Resources

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Gentleman Warrior: Art of the Samurai, Mar. 16 - Dec. 1, 2019.

Seattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Deities and Demons: Supernatural in Japanese Art, Oct. 20, 2022 - ongoing [on view Oct. 20, 2022 - Apr. 9, 2023] .

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