Subject: 侍 samurai warrior

Culture: Japanese

Setting: Kamakura shogunate, Japan 1185-1333

* Dallas Museum of Art

"Figure of Yoshitsune, c. 1895 Signed: Dai Nihon Tokyo Miyao sei, Katsutoshi Saku Japan: Meiji period (1868-1912) Bronze with gilding ....

Yoshitsune is the romantic young warrior and hero of the ancient classic The Tales of the Heike, which describes the events of the Gempei wars at the end of the 12th century. Celebrated throughout Japanese history for his bravery and loyalty, Yoshitsune is depicted in this large figure as a stalwart warrior, poised for action with his sword and spear. The face and hands are painted a rich brown; the eyes are shakudo (copper alloy), and the details are gilt."

Houston Visitors Center *

"In Commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of Chiba-Houston Sister City Relations

'Quantum Leap' Replica of the mounted samurai statue

Presented by Keiichi Tsuruoka, Mayor of Chiba City, July 2002"

Samurai Collection *

"Byōbu (six-fold screen)

Edo period, late 17th century Ink and gold leaf on paper ...

The heavily gilt scene depicted on this six-panel screen is of the famous battle of Ichinotani (1184), which took place between the Taira clan and the victorious Minamoto toward the end of the Gempei Wars (1182-1185). A crowd of colorfully-armored samurai carrying bows and arrows looks on from the left as the commanders of the two clans engage one another with swords drawn. In the distance, from behind a screen of gold clouds, the opposing forces emerge with raised white banners carrying naginata (pole weapons).

"This screen was painted some 500 years after the famous battle had taken place. The scene is taken from the Heike monogatari (Tale of the Heike), an oral epic of the battles which were first written as record [SIC] in 1371."