The moon of Yamaki mansion – Kagekado

About the Art

One of the outstanding series in the history of Japanese woodblock prints, Tsukioka Yoshitoshi’s One Hundred Aspects of the Moon is the culmination of the artist’s career. Issued as individual prints from 1885–1892, the series combines diverse, striking designs with dramatic historical and mythical stories from Japan’s past.

During the Genpei Wars (1180–1185), two competing clans—the Taira and Minamoto—fought for power. The literary classic The Tale of the Heike, written in the mid-13th century, documents the conflict and provides the basis for several of the prints in Yoshitoshi’s series. In this episode, depicting one of the first armed conflicts, the Minamoto attacked Yamaki mansion, home of Taira no Kanetaka. With the shadow of Kanetaka visible behind the sliding door, Katō Kagekado put his helmet on a spear and extended it around the corner. When Kanetaka wildly swung at the helmet, Kagekado won easily, taking Kanetaka’s head as a trophy.

FEATURED IMAGE
Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–1892), The moon of Yamaki mansion – Kagekado, from the series One Hundred Aspects of the Moon, 1886, woodblock print, ink and color on paper. Museum purchase with funds provided by Jack Graef Jr., Linda Stein, Susan Shettler and their families in memory of Jack and Marilyn Graef, 2019.9.82