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Collections

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
Bunya no Watamaro and Surrendering Rebels in Ōshū1880, February

Not on view
Japanese woodblock print showing a tall bearded figure in a white fur cloak holding a staff, surrounded by smaller figures in colorful robes, with mountains and red banner in background; Japanese text cartouches at upper right
Artist or Maker
Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
Title
Bunya no Watamaro and Surrendering Rebels in Ōshū
Place Made
Japan
Date Made
1880, February
Medium
Color woodblock print
Dimensions
Image: 12 1/2 × 8 1/8 in. (31.75 × 20.64 cm) Sheet: 14 3/8 × 9 7/16 in. (36.51 × 23.97 cm)
Credit Line
Herbert R. Cole Collection
Accession Number
M.84.31.254
Classification
Prints
Collecting Area
Japanese Art
Curatorial Notes
Like his comrade Sakanoue Tamuramaro, the Heian general Bunya no Watamaro (765-823) symbolizes loyalty to the imperial line. We see Bunya here dressed in white furs, stoically accepting the surrender of groveling Ebisu rebels, in a scene from the campaign to purge enemies of the emperor from eastern Honshū. Bunya gained fame by suppressing a revolt against the imperial court led by the outcast Empress Kusuriko in 811. His victory elevated him to the rank of shogun and proved him a dedicated protector of the emperor-a role that was especially popular in the Meiji period, when the emperor regained political power after a hiatus of nearly 700 years.