- Title
- Minamoto no Tametomo with a Bow
- Date Made
- 1878
- Medium
- Color woodblock print
- Dimensions
- Image: 14 5/16 × 9 9/16 in. (36.35 × 24.29 cm)
Sheet: 14 5/16 × 9 5/8 in. (36.35 × 24.45 cm)
- Accession Number
- M.84.31.270
- Collecting Area
- Japanese Art
- Curatorial Notes
The warrior standing with bow at the ready is Minamoto no Tametomo (1139-1170, also known as Chinzei Hachiro) a prominent leader of the Heian period (794-1185). The inscription recounts Tametomo's triumphs and struggles from youth until his death by ritual suicide (seppuku). Tametomo's valiant stance depicts his bravery, extraordinary strength, and great skill at archery. According to legend, his left arm stretched four inches longer than his right, allowing him to send his arrows further than most men. The story continues that he sank a military boat with a single arrow in a final effort to avoid arrest by court officials. When Tametomo recognized his defeat, he committed seppuku-the first recorded account of a warrior committing suicide to maintain his honor.