Parody of the tale of Nasu no Yoichi
Classification
Painting
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Accession Number
F1905.311
Tags
Charles Lang Freer collectionEdo period (1615 - 1868)JapanJapanese Artarcherybowfanhorsekakemonopine tree
About this artwork
In Heike monogatari, a long narrative account of the war between the Taira and Minamoto families in the late twelfth century, the warrior Nasu no Yoichi (flourished late 12th century), who fought on the side of the Minamoto, shot a single arrow into a fan held in place by Lady Tamamushi. His perfect shot from horseback began the Battle of Yashima in 1185. Here the tale is enacted in a modern setting from the time of the painting's creation. A well-dressed man aims an arrow at a fan held aloft by...