Title : Letter written by Yoshitsune at Koshigoe

Artist : Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Date : c. 1843 - 1847

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Source : Honolulu Museum of Art
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Description : Kuniyoshi was a celebrated artist best known for his musha-e (warrior prints), including his portrayal of the forty-seven loyal retainers in Ch üshingura. By the time of his death, he had completely altered the balance of subject matter in the art of ukiyo-e, establishing warrior prints as a respectable genre whose popularity rivaled that of prints portraying Kabuki actors and courtesans. The famous "Koshigoe letter," depicted here, represents the turning point in Yoshitsune's career. Despite his heroism, which helped crush the Heike in three major battles, and his repeated oaths of allegiance to his lord and elder brother Yoritomo, Yoritomo feared Yoshitsune as a potential rival and denied him entry into the Minamoto clan headquarters at Kamakura. The "Koshigoe letter" was Yoshitsune's final plea to Yoritomo for understanding and is so heart-wrenching that, according to the account in Gikeiki, it drew tears from Yoritomo, although he had already set his mind on eliminating his younger brother. Yoshitsune's loyal retainer Benkei is seen reading the letter in the central panel of this triptych, with Yoshitsune looking on to his right. In the letter, written in the classical Chinese used for formal documents, Yoshitsune reiterates his loyalty to Yoritomo and speaks of the pain of being rejected, although he has risked his life charging his horse down precipitous cliffs in a surprise attack against the Heike at Ichinotani, and braving the perils of wind and wave in subsequent sea battles.

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