Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

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The warrior Harunaga-kō tearing a tent bearing his vassal's crest

Location

    • currently in research collection

Objects are sometimes moved to a different location. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis. Contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular object on display, or would like to arrange an appointment to see an object in our reserve collections.

 

Publications online

  • Kuniyoshi’s Heroes of China and Japan by Oliver Impey and Mitsuko Watanabe

    Kuniyoshi’s Heroes of China and Japan

    Oda Nobunaga, 1534-1582, (here disguised under the name of Harunaga-kō) was a descendant of Taira no Kiyomori. He was the first of the three great unifiers of Japan at the end of the civil wars of the Sengoku-jidai, 1467-1568, defeating many key figures during the period and conquering several domains. In 1582 he ordered Akechi Mitsuhide, 1528?-1582, (here Takechi Michihide), one of his vassals, to provide entertainment for a great welcoming party for Tokugawa leyasu (1542-1616). Mitsuhide organised it most sumptuously, displaying treasures of gold and silver; however, Nobunaga became very angry when Mitsuhide used a tent curtain marked with his own crest.

    In this print 'Harunaga-kō' is in court robes, wearing a tachi sword, tearing the tent curtain containing 'Takechi's' crest, in anger. Mitsuhide later turned against Nobunaga, who he caused to commit suicide at the Honnō-ji incident of the same year, when he burned down Azuchi castle.

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