Shanaō [Yoshitsune] Learns Martial Arts in Sōjōgatani (Shanaō Sōjōgatani ni heijutsu o manabu zu)
1830s (Tenpô era)
![Shanaō [Yoshitsune] Learns Martial Arts in Sōjōgatani (Shanaō Sōjōgatani ni heijutsu o manabu zu) by Utagawa Kunisada](https://images.artheonmuseum.org/met/as/thumb/artwork-58263.webp)
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
Image: 14 3/4 × 10 1/8 in. (37.5 × 25.7 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Museum Accession
Accession Number
JP1093.11
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the moonlit glow of Sōjōgatani valley, Utagawa Kunisada's woodblock print *Shanaō [Yoshitsune] Learns Arts in Sōjōgatani* (1830s) captures a pivotal moment from Japanese legend. Shanaō, the childhood of the heroic samurai Minamoto no Yoshits, trains in secret under mystical tutelage—likely the tengu king Sōjōbō—amidst towering trees, a winding bridge, and ethereal female figures. Created during the Tenpō era of Japan's Edo period (1615–1868), this vibrant *ukiyo-e* print reflects Kunisada's mastery in depicting kabuki-inspired historical tales, blending drama with everyday beauty. Kunisada...
About the Artist
Utagawa Kunisada · 1786–1864
**Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1865)** Born in 1786 in the Honjo district of Edo (modern Tokyo), Utagawa Kunisada hailed from a family with a hereditary ferry-boat service that provided financial stability, allowing him to pursue art from a young age. His father, an amateur poet of note, died shortly after his birth, leaving young Sumida Shōgorō (Kunisada's childhood name) to nurture his evident talent...