Battle at the Uji River, from The Tale of the Heike

The Tale of the Heike, which tells of the conflict between two powerful warrior families, was a popular source for screen-painting subjects. This screen, one of a pair, depicts an episode
from Heike recounting an 1184 contest of military tactics and horsemanship between two warriors.

On a military campaign, Sasaki Shiro Takatsuna and Kajiwara Genta Kagesue approached the Uji River. The river was flooding, and its bridge was out; they had no choice but to swim their horses across. Each man seeking to be first, they dashed toward the river, with Kajiwara in the lead. Close behind him, Sasaki shouted, ”Your saddle looks loose, tighten it!” With Kajiwara’s attention diverted, Sasaki seized the lead, crossed the river, and ascended the opposite bank. Kajiwara’s horse was caught in the current and made land far downstream.

This painting depicts the moment when Sasaki, riding a chestnut horse, shouted at Kajiwara, who is mounted on a black horse.