Yoshitsune and Benkei at Ataka barrier

Art Historical Context

This color woodblock print captures a dramatic moment from Japanese legend, showing the warrior Minamoto no Yoshitsune and his loyal retainer Benkei at the Ataka barrier. Created in 1765 by the artist Ran-u, the scene draws from the twelfth-century tale of Yoshitsune fleeing his brother’s forces during the Genpei War. Benkei famously disguises himself as a priest, using a forged subscription list to outwit suspicious guards and allow the pair to pass—an episode celebrated in literature and theater for its themes of loyalty, wit, and courage. As a chuban-sized woodblock print, the work exempli...