Folding Screen Depicting the Genpei Wars

This folding screen depicts a battle between the Taira (Heishi) and the Minamoto (Genji) samurai clans during the end of the 12th century. Folding screens were decorative pieces used to separate rooms and shield against the wind, and this folding screen is the right half of the entire screen. The center of this screen shows the Taira Clan, which moved with the emperor from Kyoto to Fukuhara (present day Kobe). In the upper-right section of this screen, a segment of the Taira Clan is climbing down a dangerous cliff with the Minamoto Clan attacking from behind. The beach on the left side shows the young Taira no Atsumori from the Taira Clan trying to escape by ship while being pursued by Kumagai Naozane of the Minamoto Clan. It was painted in the first half of the 17th century.