Ichinotani kassen　一ノ谷合戦

KEY WORD :　art history / paintings

A pictorial subject depicting scenes from the Battle at Ichinotani, a decisive confrontation in the Genpei war Genpei kassen 源平合戦. According to HEIKE MONOGATARI 平家物語 (The Tale of The Heike), and GENPEI SEISUIKI 源平盛衰記 (The Rise and Fall of The Genji and The Heike), in the second month of 1184, the Minamoto 源 general *Yoshitsune 義経 (1159-89) led a surprise attack against the Taira 平 fort at Ichinotani (present-day Suma 須磨) in Hyougo prefecture. While half of the Genji 源氏 (Minamoto) forces attacked from the west, Yoshitsune led the other half down the steep slope of Hiyodori 鵯 pass directly behind the Heike (Taira) encampment, driving those unsuspecting warriors into the sea. During the battle on the beach, the older Genji warrior Kumagai Naozane 熊谷直実 (1141-1208) captured the courtly youth Taira no Atsumori 平敦盛 (1169-84), but was so impressed by the boy's beauty and grace that he could only bring himself to kill Atsumori to prevent the youth's death at the hands of less appreciative men. The incident, reported in The Tale of The Heike, formed the basis of the *nou 能 play ATSUMORI 敦盛, as well as joururi 浄瑠璃 and　*kabuki 歌舞伎 versions. Since the 16c the battle at Ichinotani was frequently depicted on folding screens *byoubu 屏風, such as the one in Chishaku-in 智積院, Kyoto. As individual depictions, the stories of Yoshitsune's surprise attack or the confrontation of Kumagai and Atsumori were often illustrated, especially in *ukiyo-e 浮世絵 prints.

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*heike-e 平家絵

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