Koromo River

The subjects of this painting are taken from the Early Nine Years' War, a Heian period (794-1185) military campaign in the Tōhoku region of Japan. The conflict was between the native clan of that region, the Abe clan, and the imperially established governors, the Minamoto clan. When Koromo Castle, the Abe clan’s fortress, was seized by the Minamoto clan, ABE Sadatō (left), tried to escape but was pursued by MINAMOTO Yoshi-ie (right). Yoshi-ie, instantly composing the first half of a Japanese poem, called out to Sadatō, declaring, “Koromo Castle has been destroyed.” Immediately, Sadatō completed the poem, replying, “From having been under siege for many years.” Yoshi-ie, greatly impressed by his enemy’s talent for poetry, lowered his bow and let Sadatō ride away. In fact, the scene in this painting is the inspiration for the children’s song, “Hachiman-tarō.”