This picture scroll illustrates the story of Minamoto Yoshitsune (1159-89), a military commander at the end of the 12th century, and his legendary retainer Benkei (?-1189). Yoshitsune’s older brother Minamoto Yoritomo (1147-99) became suspicions of his younger brother’s ambition after Yoshitsune achieved a series of military successes. Yorimoto had Yoshitsune expelled from Kyoto. Yoshitsune sought the protection of the Fujiwara family in Hiraizume, Oshū province, but in the end was hounded to death and forced to commit suicide by his powerful brother. The tragic story of Yoshitsune and Benkei has been popular in Japan and used in novels and dramas since the Muromachi period (1336-1573).(en)
Yoshitsune Leaving for Oshu Province Emaki, Yoshitsune Leaving for Oshu Province, Volume, 義経奥州下里の巻, 義経奥州下里絵巻, Yoshitsune Leaving for Oshu Province, 義経奥州下里
漢字ひらがな交じり 行数, 字数不定, Signature on attached motobaki ink paper: Yoshitsune Leaving for Oshu Province volume, Yoshitsune Leaving for Oshu Province emaki, 付属資料 (題簽1枚) : 「義経奥州下り」とあり, 「Dainagon Askai Masachika’s daughter Ichyi Notsubone) Yoshitsune Leaving for Oshu Province emaki with Sounji imprint」 recorded on paper attached to document chest, 共箱貼付紙に「飛鳥井大納言雅親女一位局義経奥州下里絵巻早雲寺印有り」とあり, Type: [Manuscript], Binding: Japanese-style Binding, 薄茶色緞子織表紙 (部分剥落), 19 Paintings, Attached (1 Page of Title Page) : 「Yoshitsune Leaving for Oshu Province」 recorded Attached (1 Page) : 「Book, Former Dainagon Ryujun Washio, June, Bunka 2, year of Eulchuk, Mitsuki」 recorded in back of document chest, 印記: 早雲寺, Signature on motobaki ink paper: Yoshitsune Leaving for Oshu Province, 箱入, Titled based on appendix’ title page, Kanji and hiragana, lines and characters cannot be counted, 装丁 : 和装, 挿絵19図, 資料種別 : [書写資料], 共箱貼付紙墨書書名: 義経奥州下里の巻, 義経奥州下里絵巻, 彩色, 書名は付属の題簽による, Light brown cotton damask cover (partly scrapped off), 共箱蓋裏に「銘右近衛権中将隆純書之」とあり, Imprint: Sounji, 付属資料 (1枚) : 「箱裏書蹟鷲尾前大納言隆純卿文化二年乙丑六月御調ナリ」とあり, Colored, 「Signed as written by Uknoegonchuzō Ryujin」 recorded in back of document chest cover, Document Chest, 共箱墨書書名: 義経奥州下里
