Snake (Mi): Nitan Shirō, from the series Bravery Matched with the Twelve Animals of the Zodiac (Buyū mitate jūnishi) 「仁田四郎　巳」 『武勇見立十二支』

Object Details

• Artist

  Utagawa Kuniyoshi 歌川国芳 (1798-1861)

• Publisher

  Minatoya Kohei (Kinsendo) 湊屋小兵衛 (active ca. 1841–1862)

• Label

  The snake in this print is paired with Nitta Shiro Tadatsune, a warrior who participated in a great hunt at Mount Fuji that celebrated Minamoto no Yoritomo's (1147-1199) victory over the forces of the opposing Taira house. Here Nitta Shiro holds a torch as he enters a cave on Mount Fuji where snakes rise from a pool of water. In the background, a goddess accompanied by a giant snake appears to the warrior in a vision as he confronts danger without hesitation.

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  The Life of Animals in Japanese Art (May 18 to August 18, 2019)

  Masterful Illusions: Japanese Prints from the Anne van Biema Collection (September 15, 2002 to January 9, 2003)

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  The Anne van Biema Collection

• Type

  Print

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

  The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The National Museum of Asian Art welcomes information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

Keep Exploring

• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1700s, 1710s, 1720s, 1770s, 1780s, 1790s, 1730s, 1740s, 1750s, 1760s, 1800s, 1810s, 1820s, 1830s, 1610s, 1650s, 1640s, 1630s, 1620s, 1840s, 1690s, 1680s, 1850s, 1670s, 1860s, 1660s

• Name

  Minatoya, Kohei, Utagawa, Kuniyoshi

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Bats, Warrior, Art, Edo period, Japan, (1600 - 1868), Fire, Japanese Art, Anne van Biema collection, Ukiyo-e, Eastern zodiac, Snakes

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Prints