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The Night Attack of Kumasaka at Akasaka Station in Mino province

The Night Attack of Kumasaka at Akasaka Station in Mino province
(Minō no kuni Akasaka shuku Kumasaka youchi no zu 美濃国赤坂宿熊坂夜討之図)
 1860

Medium
colour woodblock (triptych)
Measurements
(a-c) 36.9 × 75.4 cm (image) (overall)
(a-c) 36.9 × 75.4 cm (sheet) (overall)
Place/s of Execution
Japan
Inscription
(a) printed in ink (in image) l.l.: 芳虎画 / 彫兼 / (censor seal) / (publisher’s mark)
(b) printed in ink (in image) l.r.: (censor seal) / 芳虎画 / (publisher’s mark)
(c) printed in ink (in image) u.r.: 美濃国赤坂宿熊坂夜討之図
printed in ink (in image) l.r.: (publisher's mark) / (censor seal) / 芳虎画 / 彫兼
Accession Number
AS12.a-c-1992
Department
Asian Art
Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, 1992
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of The Gordon Darling Foundation
Gallery location
Not on display
Physical description
This is another print illustrating an episode in the life of the popular young samurai hero Yoshitsune. In 1174 Yoshitsune joined the travelling group of a wealthy gold merchant, Kaneuri Kichiji. When they stopped for the night at Akasaka in Mino province, Kinbai and his group was attacked by the notorious bandit Kumasaka Chōhan and his gang of outlaws. Caught in a dramatic beam of light shone from a Japanese torchlantern, here we see Yoshitsune fighting two opponents simultaneously – striking one on the shoulder with his sword as he extends his fan to block a blow from the giant outlaw chieftain Kumasaka.