Number 30: Watanabe no Tsuna Slashes a Demon at Night on the Ichijō Modoribashi Bridge

Portfolio/Seriesfrom the series Illustrated History of Great Japan

Date1885

Artist Adachi Ginkō（安達吟光） (Japanese, 1853 - 1902)

Publisher Ōkura Magobei (大倉孫兵衛) (Japanese)

CultureJapanese

MediumWoodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper

DimensionsSheet (Horizontal chūban): 7 1/16 x 9 7/16 in. (18 x 24 cm)
Image: 6 5/16 x 8 11/16 in. (16 x 22 cm)

Credit LineGift of Justine Lewis Keidel, class of 1937

Period19th c (Meiji period)

Classification(s)

InscribedOn recto, series title in upper right corner, in red cartouche, printed in block: 大日本史略図会 (Dai Nihon shiryaku zue (Illustrated History of Great Japan) On recto, print title in upper left corner, in pale brown cloud-print cartouche, printed in block: 三十　一条戻橋に渡辺綱夜鬼を斬る (Sanjū: Ichijō Modoribashi ni Watanabe no Tsuna yoru oni o kiru (Number 30: Watanabe no Tsuna Slashes a Demon at Night on the Ichijō Modoribashi Bridge)

MarkingsOn recto, upper right in margin, publication date, in block: 御届明治十八年十二月八日 (O-todoke Meiji jūhachinen jūnigatsu yōka (Filed/registered: Meiji 18 [1885].12.8) On recto, lower right, carver’s mark, in block: 彫工　ムメザハ (Chōkō Mumezawa (Carver: Mumezawa) On recto, lower left center in margin, publisher address and notes, printed in block: 編輯画工兼出版人　日本橋区通一丁目十九番地　大倉孫兵衛 (Henshū gakō ken shuppanjin Nihonbashi-ku dōri icchōme jūkyū banchi Ōkura Magobei (Editor-artist-publisher [at address] Nihonbashi-ku dōri icchōme 19 banchi, Ōkura Magobei)

Label TextThis print illustrates the legend of the samurai Watanabe no Tsuna (953–1025) and his encounter with a supernatural being disguised as a woman on the Ichijō Modoribashi Bridge in Kyoto. The scene is based on Tsuna’s confrontation with Ibaraki Dōji as recounted in the “Book of Swords” section of the The Tale of the Heike. The nighttime scene is illuminated by red lightning bolts radiating outward from the creature, fading into yellow towards the edges of the composition. With the bridge pushed out of view, the print centers on the moment in which the monster grabs at the back of Tsuna’s robes, seemingly just after transforming from an alluring young woman into its true form. The hero reaches for his famed sword Higekiri (“Whisker-Cutter”), with which he will sever the monster’s arm that suspends him in the air. The demon is grayish in color, with two claws on each foot and leopard-like spots dotting its legs. Its deeply wrinkled face features an open mouth revealing human-like teeth, short horns, and a mane of silver hair. The figure is further adorned with golden bracelets, matching shackle-like anklets, and layered robes culminating in a lavender-purple outer garment patterned with red plum blossoms. Kathleen Langston, class of 2026

Terms

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