Modoribashi　戻橋

KEY WORD :　art history / paintings

Pictorial subject matter depicting the episode of Watanabe no Tsuna 渡辺綱 (953-1024) fighting against a demon at Modoribashi, a bridge at Horikawa 堀川 and Ichijou 一条 streets in Kyoto, long associated with magical powers. HEIKE MONOGATARI 平家物語 (The Tale of the Heike) tells that Watanabe no Tsuna, one of the so-called Four Guardian Kings, Shitennou 四天王 of Minamoto no Yorimitsu 源頼光 (see *Shuten douji 酒顛童子), met a beautiful woman who suddenly changed into the evil spirit of Ibaraki douji 茨木童子. The demon lifted Tsuna into the air, but the warrior escaped by slicing off its arm. The encounter became the subject of warrior pictures *musha-e 武者絵 by *ukiyo-e 浮世絵 artists, such as the *nishiki-e 錦絵 print by Katsukawa Shunshou 勝川春章 (1726-93). The story of Modoribashi became even more popular in 1890 Kawatake Mokuami 河竹黙阿弥 (1816-93) wrote joururi 浄瑠璃 dance-piece based on the story.

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