Kano Motonobu (Kyoto, 1476 - 1559, Kyoto)
The Battle of the River Uji, late 17th century
Eight-panel screen; color and gold on paper, 116 x 376 cm (45 11/16 x 148 1/16 in.)
This screen has eight panels and depicts two rival Japanese warriors racing to cross the River Uji. The entire screen has a gold border with a pattern of geometric shapes, and a thin white inner border. The background on the panels to our left is gold with faint lines creating texture with a geometric pattern. A cropped view of a tree with a curving trunk and clumps of green leaves is in the corner to our left. Moving across the screen to the right, the curving river is painted brown with lines representing waves or rocks underwater. Areas of lighter brown are visible. A cropped view of a white bridge is in the top center of the screen. The warriors are painted on the third and fifth panels from our left. The warrior on the third panel is behind in the race. His horse is rearing up as his rider’s head is down. The warrior is dressed in military garb and carrying a weapon. The other warrior and his horse are about to enter the river. They have their eyes on the prize as they push ahead toward victory. Both horses are dark with long tails and slender legs.
Second Floor Stairhall And Stairway
Commentary
The battle of the River Uji is a famous battle that occurred just outside Kyoto, Japan, in 1182. Two rival warriors, Kajiwara Kagesuye and Sasaki Takatsuna, raced to see who would be the first to cross the River Uji and meet the enemy. Sasaki won by tricking his competitor. A few yards behind as they approached the river, he called to Kajiwara, “Your saddle girth is loose! Don’t fall and be the laughing stock of the enemy.” Kajiwara, seen on the left, looks down just before Sasaki dashes into the water triumphantly.
Isabella purchased this screen from Japanese art dealer Bunkio Matsuki at Copley Hall in Boston in 1902 when she was first installing the museum’s galleries.