The Great Battle at Horikawa

Utagawa Yoshitsuya Japanese

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 231

This image depicts a nighttime raid of the Kyoto residence of Minamoto Yoshitune (1159–89) by warriors sent by his powerful half-brother, Minamoto Yoritomo (1147–99), who went on to serve as Japan’s first shogun beginning in 1192. Yoshitsune appears in the interior of the residence at far upper right, carrying a bow, beside his wife, as warriors storm the building. After fighting for his older brother throughout the preceding years, Yoshitsune came to oppose Yoritomo. He killed his wife and child before taking his own life in the spring of 1189, after having been betrayed and surrounded by forces allied with his brother.

On view for rotation 4.

The Great Battle at Horikawa, Utagawa Yoshitsuya (Japanese, 1822–1866), Triptych of woodblock prints (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper, Japan

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The Great Battle at Horikawa, Utagawa Yoshitsuya (Japanese, 1822–1866), Triptych of woodblock prints (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper, Japan
The Great Battle at Horikawa, Utagawa Yoshitsuya (Japanese, 1822–1866), Triptych of woodblock prints (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper, Japan

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