Hatakeyama Shigetada

Category

Library Item

Item no

318

Title

Hatakeyama Shigetada (Shirafuji Hikoshichiro) from the series '100 Stories of Military Valour' (Buyu hyaku den).

Description

The samurai Hatakeyama Shigetada (1164-1205) carrying his horse on his back; a temple is depicted in the background. Legend has it that in 1184 Shigetada and Yoshitsune attacked the undefended side of the castle of Ichinotani. Whilst descending the steep slope of Hiyodorigoe, Shigetada's horse was injured and in order to avoid defeat and dishonour, he carried the animal on his back, before successfuly staging a surprise attack.

Artist / maker

Kuniyoshi

Date

1836

Size

37.5 x 24.2 cm.

Type

Wood cut

Location

Art and Design Library

The following information appears on the print:

Signature: Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga (in gourd shaped cartouche)
Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi
Censor's Seals: kiwame

From the series titled '100 Stories of Military Valour' ('Buyu hyaku den').

Shigetada fought in the Genpei War, originally on the side of the Taira (Heike) clan before switching his allegiance to the Minamoto (Genji) clan who triumphed at the decisive Battle of Dan no Ura in 1185.

This is one of a set of 50 prints donated to Edinburgh City Libraries by Marie Ferguson Dyer in honour of her father Henry Dyer. Dyer was a Scottish engineer who became the first Principal of the Imperial College of Engineering in Tokyo in 1872.

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Related subjects

Animals > Mammals > Horses

Clothing and dress > Garments > Armour

Landscape > Land > Mountains

Military > Arms and armament > Daggers and swords

Places > Asia > Japan

Religion > Religious facilities > Temples

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