Page 185 - 2021 March 16th Japanese and Korean Art, Christie's New York City

182 UTAGAWA KUNIYOSHI
(1797-1861)

Soma no furudairi ni Masakado
himegimi Takiyasha yojutsu o

motte mikata o atsumuru (In

the ruined palace of [Taira]
Masakado at Soma his daughter
Princess Takiyasha uses sorcery

to summon allies [the monster

skeleton])

Woodblock print, each sheet signed Ichiyusai
Kuniyoshi ga, publisher’s mark Hachi
Vertical oban triptych: 14¬ x 10 in. (37.1 x 25.4
cm.) each approx. (3)

$40,000-60,000

This famous print is based on the book Uto Yasukata
chugi-den[Story on the Loyalty of Uto Yasukata],
written by Santo Kyoden (1761-1816). The legend
tells that Princess Takiyasha was the daughter on
Taira no Masakado, who had died in the year 940
during an unsuccessful rebellion. At some point she
and her stepbrother met Nikushisen, a spirit, whose
powers helped them in forming a rebellion. They
go to the Soma Palace (which belonged to their
father) to enact their plan. However, a retainer of
Minamoto Yorinobu, Oya Taro Mitsukuni, discovered
the plot and finally defeated the princess and her
stepbrother at the palace. In Kuniyoshi's depiction of
this legend, the ghost appears dramatically as a giant
skeleton, drawing back a torn bamboo blind to haunt
Mitsukuni. The princess looks on, chanting a spell.