Miyamoto Musashi Killing a Monster Bat in the Mountains of Tambo Province

Medium:: Woodblock print
Format:: Oban
Source:: Art of Japan

Typical Price

Fine supernatural or mythological subject: $3,000–$15,000
Good condition print with dramatic imagery: $800–$3,000
Standard impression: $200–$800

Description

Miyamoto Musashi — Japan's most legendary swordsman — is shown here not in his famous duels with human opponents but in combat with a monstrous giant bat in the mountains of Tamba Province, an episode from a popular biographical novel rather than documented history. Kuniyoshi's Musashi prints expand the swordsman's already extraordinary legend into the supernatural register, pitting him against beasts and demons that only his unparalleled skill could defeat. The mountain wilderness setting and nocturnal atmosphere heighten the mythological stakes.

More Prints by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Yan Qing (Roshi Ensei), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)"

Poem by Abe no Nakamaro, from an untitled series of One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets

Hu Sanniang (Ko Sanjo Ichijosei), from the series "One Hundred and Eight Heroes of the Popular Water Margin (Tsuzoku Suikoden goketsu hyakuhachinin no hitori)"

Miya, Kuwana, Yokkaichi, and Ishiyakushi, from the series "Famous Places on the Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido, Four Stations (Tokaido gojusan eki yonshuku meisho)"

More Landscapes Prints

Lake Kugushi in Wakasa Province (Wakasa Kugushiko), from the series Souvenirs of Travel I (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"

Wakasa Kugushiko

1920

Color woodblock print; oban

Autumn Maple Leaves at Takao, from the album Eight Views of Kyoto (Kyôto hakkei)

Woodblock print

The Beach at Kaiganji in Sanuki Province (Sanuki Kaiganji no hama), from the series "Collection of Views of Japan II, Kansai Edition (Nihon fukei shu II Kansai hen)"

1934

Color woodblock print; oban

Tea Kettle, section of a sheet from the series "Mirror of Stone Rubbings of Views of the Provinces" (Kohon meihitsu ishizuri kagami)

n.d.

Woodblock print; ishizuri-e, section of harimaze sheet

Featured in Collections

Curated cross-cuts that include this print.

Mount Fuji in Japanese Woodblock Prints Meisho-e: Famous-Place Prints

Frequently Asked Questions

Miyamoto Musashi Killing a Monster Bat in the Mountains of Tambo Province was created by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (歌川国芳).

Miyamoto Musashi Killing a Monster Bat in the Mountains of Tambo Province depicts landscapes and animals.