Title: Tosa kō Shū Juni-rui Kassen Emaki (Tosa Hirochika’s Picture Scrolls of the Twelve Zodiac Animals Battle), 1852. An Extremely Rare Emakimono Set of Two Scrolls Depicting an Illustrated Beast Fable, of the Twelve Zodiac Animals against the Beast Army, with Numerous Ink Paintings
Author: Attributed to Tosa Danshin or Eishin; After Tosa Hirochika
Condition: Very Good
Two extremely rare, Late Edo Period, mid 19th century hand scrolls, roughly entitled Tosa kō Shū Juni-rui Kassen Emaki, or Tosa Hirochika’s Picture Scrolls of the Twelve Zodiac Animals Battle. Also known as the Tale of the Battle of the Duodenary Animals, the narrative begins with the twelve Zodiac Animals, messengers of the Twelve Heavenly Generals, holding a parody of traditional uta-awase, or traditional poetry contest.
The animals invite the deer to serve as their judge, while a badger lurks in the background, serving as the deer’s attendant. After the successful contest and a drinking party, another contest is held, but the deer refuses to judge. When the badger volunteers, he is punished and rebuked and enacts revenge by gathering various birds and beasts to commit a sneak attack. The Zodiac Animals, however, are not caught unawares, and a battle breaks out, which the Zodiac Army wins, upon which the Beast Army retreats and construct a fortress to continue the battle.
The Zodiac Animals mount their own offensive assault and emerge victorious, and the badger, tormented by his defeats, transforms himself into a monstrous oni to mount a devastating attack on the Zodiac Animals. However, while stricken by his own reflection in the water, he runs off in fear from a barking dog and decides to change him way. Along his path of religious enlightenment, he meets a disciple of Honen Shonin who tonsures him, and gives him a Buddhist name, aiding in shaving his furry head. The badger practices dancing prayers, and redeems, himself by converting to Buddhism and settles in seclusion.
All these scenes have been painted in lively ink wash scenes, with some hand painted trees and leaves, and faithfully copied after the earlier examples of the Muromachi Period. Flowing in between the paintings is the text narrative for the tale, in a fine calligraphical hand, and some additions are in red ink as well.
At the end of the first scroll is a dated inscription, to May of Kaei 5, attributing the paintings to one Tosa Danshin, or Eishin. Having consulted the Tosa School list of major artists, this is not a name that comes up, so it is possible that it was a Tosa School artist of minor renown, or an anonymous artist who chose to use a pseudonym. Or I translated it poorly. There are also copied dates of the Bunroku and Eiji Eras, likely from the original manuscripts and texts.
Western auctions and sales do not record a set sold since the March 23rd, 2000, sale at Christies. Prior to that, there was an April 27th, 1993, sale in which an Early to Mid Edo Period set hammered for 123500 USD.
The emakimono drawings have been laid down and bound as two scrolls for preservation, with worn protective covers, and there are jikusaki (knobs) of wood with fabric stretched over them. There is a wooden box to accompany them, preserving the contents.
Two emakimono (picture scrolls) on washi paper, 30.9 x 800 and 30.9 x 797 cm full size. The knobs are not included as part of the measurement.
These emakimono are in very good shape, with some rubbing wear to the covers, with a few worm tracks. There are some marginal worm tracks to the first scroll, with a minor worm track to the center throughout, and there are minor worm tracks to the upper margins of the last 150cm of the second scroll. The marginal worm tracks do not affect the paintings.