Title: The Secrets of Strategy: Chapter Four (San ryaku den dai yon, 三略傳 第四)
Description: Kawachi Kakutei (河内覚定) on the lookout in a pine tree with Kumasaka Chôhan (熊坂入道長範) and his gang below
Series: Hodo Yoshitsune koi no Minamoto ichidai kagami, (程義経戀源 一代鏡)
Artist: Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861)
Signature: Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga and kiri seal
Date: 1847-50
Cens: Mera, Murata
Publisher: Jôshû-ya Jûzô (重上州屋) refer seal to the right of signature cartouche. Note: there is another state by Iba-ya Kyûbei
Size: Oban tate-e,
Condition: Very good early impression with strong wood grain, and oxidation in the orange pigment, good colour and condition, trimmed either side, some wrinkles
Price: TBC
References: Robinson S65.4;
The tale of the print – Kawachi Kakutei and Kumasaka Chohan, cruisin for a bruisin …
At Kashiwabara, as the wealthy merchant Kanefuri Kichiji (金売吉次) travelled down the road with horses and attendants, they arrived at the post-station of Aohaka (青墓の宿) in Mino Province.
At that moment suspecting something unusual a lookout, Kawachi Kakutei (河内覚定) climbed the ‘Watch Pine’ and observed them carefully. Seeing amongst them a man of refined appearance and bearing, unlike that of ordinary people, he wondered whether he might be a nobleman or someone of high rank travelling in disguise.
Kumasaka Chôhan (熊坂入道長範) and more than seventy bandits, intending to seize the goods lodged at Aotoba’s inn, waited below for their opportunity…
As we know, they later attempted to steal Tachibanaji’s luggage from the Inn (T53) – you can make good decisions in life, this wasn’t one of them.