Fording the Uji River
Screen
ca. 1600-1650 (made)
ca. 1600-1650 (made)
| Place of origin |
This scene, from an anonymous six-fold painted screen, depicts 'Fording the Uji River', a race between the two samurai Kajiwara Kagetoki and Sasaki Takatsuna to be the first to cross the river in February 1184 at the height of the Taira-Minamoto wars. This 17th-century screen clearly depicts the 'nobility' of the Kamakura period (1185-1333) mounted samurai fully armed and armoured for battle. The theme of this heroic race was an extremely popular one; it is found in many forms of Japanese art. The samurai are actually shown wearing 16th-century style helmets, but otherwise the depiction of the arms and armour is correct for a Kamakura period warrior.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Fording the Uji River (popular title) |
| Materials and techniques | Wood frame, with painted colours on paper |
| Brief description | Six-fold painted screen depicting mounted samurai of the Kamakura period in a race to ford the Uji river; anonymous; 17th century Japanese.; Pap, Japan, paintings and drawings. |
| Physical description | A six-fold painted screen which depicts the race between Kajiwara Kagetoki and Sasaki Takatsuna to be the first to cross the river in February 1184 at the height of the Taira-Minamoto wars. This 17th century screen clearly depicts the 'nobility' of the Kamakura period mounted samurai fully armed for battle in his armour and the theme of this particular heroic race was an extremely popular one in many forms of Japanese art. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Purchased from Yamanaka & Co., accessioned in 1910. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. Exhibited at the Exhibition of Japanese Screens at the Gallery of the Royal Society of British Artists, Suffolk St., London, July 191. Bought from Yamamaka & Co. for 5 Guineas, less 5% = £47.5. |
| Summary | This scene, from an anonymous six-fold painted screen, depicts 'Fording the Uji River', a race between the two samurai Kajiwara Kagetoki and Sasaki Takatsuna to be the first to cross the river in February 1184 at the height of the Taira-Minamoto wars. This 17th-century screen clearly depicts the 'nobility' of the Kamakura period (1185-1333) mounted samurai fully armed and armoured for battle. The theme of this heroic race was an extremely popular one; it is found in many forms of Japanese art. The samurai are actually shown wearing 16th-century style helmets, but otherwise the depiction of the arms and armour is correct for a Kamakura period warrior. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.3054-1910 |
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| Record created | May 30, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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