Minamoto no Yoritomo Hiding in a Tree
c. 1758
Medium
Color woodblock print, oban yoko-e, benizuri-e
Dimensions
44 × 31.2 cm (17 5/16 × 12 1/4 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
44129
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of 18th-century Japanese uyo-e, Torii Kiyoshige's *Minamoto no Yorit Hiding in a Tree* (c. 1758) captures a dramatic moment from samurai legend. The print depicts Minamoto no Yomo, the founder of Japan's first shogunate in 1185, evading enemies by concealing himself in a tree's branches during his flight after the Genpei War. This tale of resilience and cunning became a staple in popular storytelling, blending history with heroic folklore during the Edo period's cultural boom. Printed as a large horizontal oban yoko-e (44 × 31.2 cm) in the benizuri-e technique—a pioneerin...