Taiheiki Warriors

The Taiheiki, a 14th-century war epic presenting scenes from the Nanboku-cho period (1334-1392), is one of the key works of early Japanese literature. The book was first popularized in Japanese art by musha-e (“warrior picture”) prints during the 19th century, in particular by Kuniyoshi’s series Taiheiki Eiyu-den ("Taiheiki Heroes") of 1847-49, and Yoshiiku’s imitative but expanded series Taiheiki Eiyu-den of 1867-69. Both series depicted a range of samurai in battle, with kinetic framing and numerous images of bloody carnage. Yoshiiku in particular took this aspect to an extreme, with severed heads and blood liberally strewn about his designs. This special ebook selection of Taiheiki Warriors includes 25 of the most vivid and dynamic designs from each series, making a total of 50 classic warrior prints by Kuniyoshi and Yoshiiku, two of the most renowned and accomplished of all ukiyo-e artists.