Triptych: Captain Asakawa Scouts the Battle and Fights Bravely (Sekkô Asakawa Kiheitaii Funsen no zu), Meiji period, dated 1895
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Format:
- Oban triptych
- Source:
- Harvard Art Museums
Description
Captain Asakawa's celebrated reconnaissance mission and subsequent single-handed combat are depicted in this 1895 triptych — its full title Sekkō Asakawa Kiheitaii Funsen no zu identifying it as "A picture of cavalry scout Asakawa fighting bravely." The Asakawa story became one of the defining hero narratives of the Sino-Japanese War, with Kiyochika producing at least three triptych versions documenting different aspects of the episode. This version emphasises the fighting rather than the scouting phase, showing Asakawa in close combat with Qing soldiers.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Triptych: Captain Asakawa Scouts the Battle and Fights Bravely (Sekkô Asakawa Kiheitaii Funsen no zu), Meiji period, dated 1895 was created by Kobayashi Kiyochika (小林清親).
Triptych: Captain Asakawa Scouts the Battle and Fights Bravely (Sekkô Asakawa Kiheitaii Funsen no zu), Meiji period, dated 1895 depicts warriors.