Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

1839-1892

Yoshitoshi’s Courageous Warriors: Hino Kumawakamaru
(Yoshitoshi musha burui: Hino Kumawakamaru )

signed Yoshitoshi ga, with artist's seal Taiso, carver's seal unread, and publisher's date and address seal Meiji juhachinen, -gatsu, -ka; Tokyo Nihonbashi-dori Sanchome 13-banchi, shuppanjin Kobayashi Tetsujiro (Meiji 18 [1885]) of Maruya Tetsujiro of Enjudo

oban tate-e 14 1/2 by 9 7/8 in., 36.8 by 25 cm

The legend of the young Hino Kumawakamaru, from the late 14th-century Chronicle of Great Peace (Taiheiki), is often used to represent filial piety. After avenging his father's death on the island of Sado by killing the murderer, Kumawakamaru finds shelter with an old monk who offers to take him to the harbor and help him secure safe passage off the island. After the last of many captains refused to take the boy, the monk chanted a prayer which threatened to capsize the boat if it did not return to shore. As the waters churned about the vessel, the crew hastily returned to shore and took the boy safely to Echigo Province.

References:
Roger Keyes, Courage and Silence, 1983, p. 454, no. 460.14
Eric van den Ing & Robert Schaap, Beauty and Violence, 1992, p. 129, no. 44.14
LACMA, accession no. M.84.31.221

price: $1,500