[Album of Historic Pictures]

Twelve scenes selected from Chikanobu’s treatment of the heike monogatari [Tales of Heike], retelling the events of the Genpei War between the ruling Taira clan and their arch-enemies the Minamoto. Most likely compiled for the tourist trade, this selection concentrates on scenes of samurai prowess, rather than the more lyrical or courtly aspects of the tale, Oda Nobunaga leaping across the flames of the Honno-ji to evade yari of Yasuda Sakubei; the warrior-monk Yokugawa Kakuhan fighting in the snow with Sato Tadanobu; & the struggle between the warrior woman Tomoe Gozen, Uchida Ieyoshi, and Wada Yoshimori at the Uji River.

8vo. (230 × 180mm) Original tan decoratively printed cotton-covered boards, paper label to the upper panel, title translates as above. Contains 12 oban yoko-e, horizontal oban, colour woodblock prints, folded concertina-style, opening 350 × 230mm. Split at one connecting fold, carefully reattached with archival tissue, else very good.