Yoshitoshi's 'Mirror of Famous Generals of Japan' (1876 - 2/1882)

Introduction

This series dates from a 5-6 year period in Yoshitoshi's career of much personal and financial difficulty. Although well known and reasonably productive, Yoshitoshi went through several periods where he was quite destitute and dependant upon supporters for upkeep.

The series, 'Mirror if Famous Generals of Japan,' was very well received, and sold well. The series features images of warriors from throughout Japan's history with accompanying text. Many editions appear to have been issued, with differing color schemes and quality of impressions.

Technical details

• Dates: 1876 - 1882 (2)
• Size: Ōban
• Signed: oju Yoshitoshi hitsu
• Seal: Taiso
• Publishers: Kumagai (1-11), Funazu Chujiro
• Engravers: Hori Mina, Horiko Ota Hidekatsu

Previous cataloguings

	Roger. S. Keyes, "Courage and Silence: A Study of the Life and
		Color Woodblock Prints of Tsukioka Yoshitoshi 1839-1892",
		Cinncinnati, 1982

	Eric van den Ing, Robert Schaap, "Beauty and Violence: Japanese
		Prints by Yoshitoshi 1839-1892",
		Havilland, Eindhoven, 1992

where it appears as series #27 (pg. 52, 116-118);

	Toni Liberthson, "Devine Dementia: The Woodblock Prints of Yoshitoshi",
		Washington, D.C., Shogun Gallery, 1981.

where the entire series is illustrated.

We use the Keyes numbers to order the prints below.

The Prints

Thumbnail	Number	Date	Title	Description
	#01	1876	Yamato Takeru no Mikoto with bow before banner.
	#02	1876	Empress Jingo and Takeshiuchi no Sukune fishing at Chikuzen.
	#03	1876	Sakanoue Tamuramaro in a rain of arrows.
	#04	1876	Minamoto no Raikō and his men in the lair of Shutendoji.
	#05	1876	Minamoto no Yoriyoshi producing water with his bow.
	#06	1876	Hachiman Tarō Yoshiie on horseback at Nakoso Barrier.
	#07	1876	Udaishō Minamoto no Yoritomo and the cranes.
	#08	1876	Nitta Yoshisada throwing his sword into the sea.
	#09	1876	Taira no Kiyomori greeting the dawn.
	#10	1876	Toyotomi Hideyoshi shielding Omandokoro from Kato Kiyomasa.
	#11	1876	Tokugawa Ieyasu at the entrance to a palace
	#12	10/1876	Gensani Yorimasa and I no Hayata confronting the nue.
	#13	10/1876	Hōjō Tokiyori standing in snow.
	#14	10/1876	Taira no Shigemori sending gold to China.
	#15	10/1876	The duel of Ushiwaka and Benkei (Yoshitsune) on Gojō Bridge.
	#16	10/1876	Takeda Daizendayū (Nyūdō Shingen) crouching in field.
	#17	10/1876	Oda (Udaijin Taira) no Nobunaga in flames at Honnoji Temple.
	#18	11/1878	Ashikaga Takauji and Nitta Yoshisada.
	#19	11/1878	Kusunoki Masashige reading to his troops at Shitennoji Temple.
	#20	11/1878	Uesugi Kenshin dancing by a bonfire.
	#21	11/1878	Tokugawa Iemitsu and Ii Naotaka in Nikko
	#22	4/1879	Prince Shōtoku killing Moriya no Omuraji for heresy.
	#23	4/1879	Kamatari and Prince Oe killing the usurper Iruka.
	#24	4/1879	Rokusonō Tsunemoto killing a deer at the Imperial Palace
	#25	4/1879	Minamoto no Yorinobu swimming across a bay to attack Tadatsune.
	#26	4/1879	Minamoto no Yoshimitsu instructing Toyohara no Tokiaki in music.
	#27	4/1879	Minamoto no Yoshitomo battling Osada Kagemune in Owari Province.
	#28	4/1879	Chinzei Hachirō Tametomo and Oniyasha on beach.
	#29	4/1879	Higashiyama Yoshimasa in retirement watching plovers on the Yodo River.
	#30	10/1879	Otomo no Sadehiko leaving Sayohime to invade Korea.
	#31	10/1879	Taira no Sadamori killing the rebel Masakado.
	#32	10/1879	Hōjō Yasutoki on the grounds of the Imperial Palace.
	#33	10/1879	Hōjō Ujiyasu on a rocky promontory.
	#34	1879	Taira no Koremochi slashing at a demon.
	#35	1879	Ashikaga Yoshimitsu admiring the Temple of the Golden Pavillion.
	#36	2/1880	Susanoo no Mikoto and Inadahime awaiting the eight-headed serpent.
	#37	2/1880	Emperor Jimmu with the Yata crow perched on his bow.
	#38	2/1880	Michinoomi no Mikoto following a crow to the enemy's lair.
	#39	2/1880	Kamitsukeno Yatsunada attacking Saohime's castle.
	#40	2/1880	The ghost of Tamichi as a great snake haunting his enemies.
	#41	2/1880	Otomo no Kanemura fighting the usurper Otomi Matori.
	#42	2/1880	Abe no Hirafu slaying a great bear.
	#43	2/1880	Sakanoue no Karitamaro drawing bow.
	#44	2/1880	Fumiya no Watamaro and surrendering rebels in Oshu.
	#45	2/1880	Ono no Yoshifuru Ason watching a burning ship.
	#46	2/1880	Tawara Tōda Hidesato in audience with the Emperor.
	#47	2/1880	Tada no Manju killing the giant serpent.
	#48	2/1880	Rokujō Hangan Tameyoshi on galloping horse.
	#49	2/1880	Taifūbō Kakumyō kneeling before Kiso Yoshinaka.
	#50	2/1880	Mōri Motonari attacking Sue Harutaka at Itsukushima.
	#51	2/1882	Amaterasu Ōmikami appearing from the cave.
	#52	1876	Title page for series