Yashima kassen　屋島合戦

KEY WORD :　art history / paintings

A pictorial subject depicting scenes from the "Battle at Yashima," an important engagement in the Genpei Battles Genpei kassen 源平合戦 and setting for several dramatic incidents, such as *Yuminagashi 弓流し and *Ougi-no-mato 扇の的, which were later celebrated in literature and art. As recounted in 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), on the 18th day of the second month of 1185 the forces of the Minamoto 源 general, *Yoshitsune 義経 (1159-89) attacked the Heike camped on the beach at Yashima 屋島 (near Takamatsu 高松, Kagawa prefecture), burning their fort. As the Taira 平 courtiers and warriors fled in boats, Yoshitsune's men galloped out into the surf exchanging arrows. Later the Heike led by Noritsune 教経 (1160-85), returned to the beach to confront the Genji warriors but were eventually driven out to sea. The scene at the beach, backed by pine trees, of Yoshitsune on horse-back watching the Heike boats approach is called "Muretakamatsu 牟礼高松". The "Battle at Yashima" is one of the main scenes of painting of the Genpei battles Genpei kassen-zu 源平合戦図 usually depicted on folding screens *byoubu 屏風, such as the 17c example in the Tokyo National Museum. Episodes from the battle were often rendered in warrior prints *musha-e 武者絵 by *ukiyo-e 浮世絵 artists especially in the 19c.

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*heike-e 平家絵.

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