Miyamoto Musashi Killing a Monster Bat in the Mountains of Tambo Province
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Format:
- Oban
- Source:
- Art of Japan
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
Woman as the Hero Taisō in Palanquin Holding a Pipe
c. 1830
Woodblock print (surimono), ink and color on paper
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)"
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.
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.