Yōshū Chikanobu – Atsumori and Kumagai at Ichi-no-tani – The Tale of the Heike – 1898 - Japan - Meiji period (1868-1912)
03
days
17
hours
20
minutes
13
seconds
 | €8 | |
|---|---|---|
 | €7 | |
| €6 | |
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 145414 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
This original Japanese woodblock print by Yōshū Chikanobu depicts Atsumori and Kumagai at Ichi-no-tani and dates from 1898, during the Meiji period.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
** Atsumori and Kumagai at Ichi-no-tani · the most famous single episode of the Heike monogatari · 1898 first-edition publisher **
Artist: Yōshū Chikanobu 楊洲周延 (1838–1912)
Title: Atsumori, Kumagai 敦盛 熊谷 (Taira no Atsumori and Kumagai Naozane)
Series: Heike monogatari (The Tale of the Heike), 1898. The sheets carry no series title. Dealers usually call it “Heroes and Heroines of the Tale of the Heike.”
Publisher: Fukuda Hatsujirō 福田初次郎, Nihonbashi, Tokyo
Date: 1898 (Meiji 31)
Signature: 楊洲周延 (Yōshū Chikanobu), with red artist’s seal
Technique: Woodblock print (nishiki-e), ink and colour on paper
Format: Horizontal sheet, approx. 24 × 35 cm
----------------------------------------------------------------
Condition
Impression & Colours: A well-preserved impression with fair colours across the sheet.
Paper: Moderate toning and wear to margins! Good overall. Please check the images before bidding!
-------------------------------------------------------
About the print
In 1184, during the Genpei War, the Minamoto attacked the Taira stronghold at Ichi-no-tani on the coast near present-day Kōbe. The Taira were routed and fled to their ships. Among the Minamoto warriors on the beach was Kumagai Naozane (1141–1208), a seasoned fighter from Musashi province looking for a worthy opponent. He saw a richly armoured Taira rider heading out to sea and called him back with his war fan, challenging him not to turn his back on the enemy. The young warrior turned his horse and returned to fight.
Kumagai threw him down and pulled off his helmet, and found a boy of about sixteen, the same age as his own son. He wanted to spare him, but other Minamoto riders were approaching, and he killed him to give him a quicker death than others would. Only afterwards did he learn the boy was Taira no Atsumori, nephew of Kiyomori, who carried a flute he had played in the Taira camp the night before. In the Tale of the Heike, this moment leads Kumagai to renounce warfare and become a Buddhist monk. The story became one of the best-known in Japanese culture, retold in the Noh play Atsumori and the kabuki and puppet drama Ichinotani futaba gunki.
Seller's Story
I've been collecting Japanese woodblock prints for quite a while now — everything from classic ukiyo-e to shin-hanga and sōsaku-hanga. What started as a personal passion eventually turned into something more, and these days I source prints from auctions, galleries, and private collections across Japan and Europe.
With growing worldwide interest in Japanese woodblock prints, gallery prices have been climbing steadily. My goal is simple: offer high-quality, authentic prints at reasonable prices. I'm picky about what I sell — I look for pieces that have been stored properly, kept flat, and are free from serious foxing, stains, or damage.
I'm based in Germany, which means EU buyers won't deal with any import duties or taxes. For US buyers, original artworks under HS code 9702 are duty-free as well. And wherever you are, I pack everything carefully with multiple layers of protection so your print arrives safely.
If you have questions about a piece, just reach out. You will get access to contact me once you've won an item from my lots.
** Atsumori and Kumagai at Ichi-no-tani · the most famous single episode of the Heike monogatari · 1898 first-edition publisher **
Artist: Yōshū Chikanobu 楊洲周延 (1838–1912)
Title: Atsumori, Kumagai 敦盛 熊谷 (Taira no Atsumori and Kumagai Naozane)
Series: Heike monogatari (The Tale of the Heike), 1898. The sheets carry no series title. Dealers usually call it “Heroes and Heroines of the Tale of the Heike.”
Publisher: Fukuda Hatsujirō 福田初次郎, Nihonbashi, Tokyo
Date: 1898 (Meiji 31)
Signature: 楊洲周延 (Yōshū Chikanobu), with red artist’s seal
Technique: Woodblock print (nishiki-e), ink and colour on paper
Format: Horizontal sheet, approx. 24 × 35 cm
----------------------------------------------------------------
Condition
Impression & Colours: A well-preserved impression with fair colours across the sheet.
Paper: Moderate toning and wear to margins! Good overall. Please check the images before bidding!
-------------------------------------------------------
About the print
In 1184, during the Genpei War, the Minamoto attacked the Taira stronghold at Ichi-no-tani on the coast near present-day Kōbe. The Taira were routed and fled to their ships. Among the Minamoto warriors on the beach was Kumagai Naozane (1141–1208), a seasoned fighter from Musashi province looking for a worthy opponent. He saw a richly armoured Taira rider heading out to sea and called him back with his war fan, challenging him not to turn his back on the enemy. The young warrior turned his horse and returned to fight.
Kumagai threw him down and pulled off his helmet, and found a boy of about sixteen, the same age as his own son. He wanted to spare him, but other Minamoto riders were approaching, and he killed him to give him a quicker death than others would. Only afterwards did he learn the boy was Taira no Atsumori, nephew of Kiyomori, who carried a flute he had played in the Taira camp the night before. In the Tale of the Heike, this moment leads Kumagai to renounce warfare and become a Buddhist monk. The story became one of the best-known in Japanese culture, retold in the Noh play Atsumori and the kabuki and puppet drama Ichinotani futaba gunki.
Seller's Story
I've been collecting Japanese woodblock prints for quite a while now — everything from classic ukiyo-e to shin-hanga and sōsaku-hanga. What started as a personal passion eventually turned into something more, and these days I source prints from auctions, galleries, and private collections across Japan and Europe.
With growing worldwide interest in Japanese woodblock prints, gallery prices have been climbing steadily. My goal is simple: offer high-quality, authentic prints at reasonable prices. I'm picky about what I sell — I look for pieces that have been stored properly, kept flat, and are free from serious foxing, stains, or damage.
I'm based in Germany, which means EU buyers won't deal with any import duties or taxes. For US buyers, original artworks under HS code 9702 are duty-free as well. And wherever you are, I pack everything carefully with multiple layers of protection so your print arrives safely.
If you have questions about a piece, just reach out. You will get access to contact me once you've won an item from my lots.
Details
Dynastic Style/Period
Meiji period (1868-1912)
Number of objects
1
Country of Origin
Japan
Attribution
Original
Title of artwork
Yōshū Chikanobu – Atsumori and Kumagai at Ichi-no-tani – The Tale of the Heike – 1898
Condition
Good condition
Provenance
Private collection
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
