Ushiwakamaru at Gojō Bridge
1882
Talk about defying gravity! This dynamic woodblock print by the legendary Tsukioka Yoshitoshi captures the young hero Ushiwakamaru performing an impossible balancing act. Dressed in patterned green robes, he perches precariously on one foot atop a giant, glowing moon, his sword sheath flying off into the distance near a rocky shore. This scene references the legend that Ushiwakamaru was trained by Tengu—mischievous mountain goblins—who taught him supernatural acrobatics and swordsmanship before his famous duel at Gojō Bridge. Yoshitoshi, often called the last great master of ukiyo-e, loved dramatic, almost surreal compositions like this one from his famous 'One Hundred Aspects of the Moon' series.
- Technique
- Woodblock print
- Material
- Paper
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