Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

1839-1892

One Hundred Aspects of the Moon: no. 67, Joganden moon -Minamoto no Tsunemoto
(Tsuki hyakushi: Joganden no tsuki -Minamoto no Tsunemoto)

signed Yoshitoshi with artist's seal Taiso, engraver's mark Enkatsu, and published by Akiyama Buemon, ca. 1888

oban tate-e 13 7/8 by 9 1/2 in., 35.2 by 24.1 cm

This print depicts Minamoto no Tsunemoto (894-961), a skilled archer and famous poet in the court of Emperor Shujaku (922-952). We see Tsunemoto from behind with his heavy embroidered robes billowing about him as he fells a deer with a single arrow between the eyes. The scene takes place on an autumn evening in 932 in the Joganden section of the Kyoto palace complex. According to legend the deer was demonic and threatening the life of the Emperor. The story goes that the deer, with gleaming red eyes and sharp teeth, was leaping from the palace roof to kill the Emperor when Tsunemoto intervened. Tsunemoto would save the Emperor's life again by alerting him to the rebellion of Taira no Masakado (?-940).

Reference:
John Stevenson, Yoshitoshi's One Hundred Aspects of the Moon, 2001, cat. no. 67

(inv. no. 10-3412)

price: Sold