Two finely illustrated handscrolls, each entitled on outside labels "Inuoumono no zu" [Hunting Dogs on Horseback, Illustrated]
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Two scrolls (317 x 7880 mm.; 317 x 7200 mm.), wooden core rollers. At end of second scroll we find (in trans.): "Original owner Kanō Ansen 狩野安仙 lent his scrolls illustrated by Shinagawa Zui'un 品川随雲 & Sakazaki Kō'un 坂崎好雲 on 12 December 1713 to the painter Fujichika Morikazu 藤周守約 who copied them."
Two handsomely illustrated scrolls with eleven scenes of the Inuoumono festival, which began as a military training exercise for warriors, emphasizing skill in shooting moving targets from horseback. It was a "sport practiced by samurai starting in the Kamakura period and consisting of shooting [blunted] arrows at dogs. Within a large, roped-off circular area was another circle about 15 m in diameter in which dogs were released. Samurai on horseback galloped outside the larger circle, shooting at the dogs and trying to knock them over. This sport disappeared along with the samurai class, in 1868. The game originated in China."-Louis Frédéric, Japan Encyclopedia (Cambridge, MA: 2002), p. 392. The sport became highly ritualized, with strict rules, and was often performed in front of the shogun and high dignitaries. Due to the influence of the Buddhist clergy, the arrows were deliberately dulled to avoid injuring the dogs.
In the first scroll, the first scene depicts a group of men, participants and members of the audience, gathered in a large meeting hall facing the event field. They sit with a guest of honor. This is followed by a view of the playing field, surrounded by fences of bamboo stakes. Arrows with padded tips are hung from the fences. In the center of the field are the two circles, one within another. On a viewing platform, dignitaries wait for the games to begin. Next we see 60 mounted samurai in formation, with attendants, one of whom is escorting a dog to the circles. The following scene shows the dog in place and the competition about to begin. The final scene in this scroll shows the game in action, with 12 samurai taking their turns to shoot arrows at the dog.
The second scroll is somewhat similar in theme but with rather different content. The first scene shows samurai gathered in a long meeting hall, waiting for the match to begin. Foods, including game, are laid out, ready to be cooked. The next scene shows a smaller fenced-in playing field with a viewing platform. Now we see 48 mounted samurai assembled, ready for action. This is followed by a view of the long hall area for spectators. Samurai are bringing food offerings to the guest of honor. Next is a scene of the playing field, again with dulled arrows hanging on the fence. Finally, there is a view of the 36 mounted archers, ready for the beginning of the match.
Our scrolls contain small notes with instructions for further coloring.
Preserved in a modern wooden box.
Two handsomely illustrated scrolls with eleven scenes of the Inuoumono festival, which began as a military training exercise for warriors, emphasizing skill in shooting moving targets from horseback. It was a "sport practiced by samurai starting in the Kamakura period and consisting of shooting [blunted] arrows at dogs. Within a large, roped-off circular area was another circle about 15 m in diameter in which dogs were released. Samurai on horseback galloped outside the larger circle, shooting at the dogs and trying to knock them over. This sport disappeared along with the samurai class, in 1868. The game originated in China."-Louis Frédéric, Japan Encyclopedia (Cambridge, MA: 2002), p. 392. The sport became highly ritualized, with strict rules, and was often performed in front of the shogun and high dignitaries. Due to the influence of the Buddhist clergy, the arrows were deliberately dulled to avoid injuring the dogs.
In the first scroll, the first scene depicts a group of men, participants and members of the audience, gathered in a large meeting hall facing the event field. They sit with a guest of honor. This is followed by a view of the playing field, surrounded by fences of bamboo stakes. Arrows with padded tips are hung from the fences. In the center of the field are the two circles, one within another. On a viewing platform, dignitaries wait for the games to begin. Next we see 60 mounted samurai in formation, with attendants, one of whom is escorting a dog to the circles. The following scene shows the dog in place and the competition about to begin. The final scene in this scroll shows the game in action, with 12 samurai taking their turns to shoot arrows at the dog.
The second scroll is somewhat similar in theme but with rather different content. The first scene shows samurai gathered in a long meeting hall, waiting for the match to begin. Foods, including game, are laid out, ready to be cooked. The next scene shows a smaller fenced-in playing field with a viewing platform. Now we see 48 mounted samurai assembled, ready for action. This is followed by a view of the long hall area for spectators. Samurai are bringing food offerings to the guest of honor. Next is a scene of the playing field, again with dulled arrows hanging on the fence. Finally, there is a view of the 36 mounted archers, ready for the beginning of the match.
Our scrolls contain small notes with instructions for further coloring.
Preserved in a modern wooden box.
Details
Title
Two finely illustrated handscrolls, each entitled on outside labels "Inuoumono no zu" [Hunting Dogs on Horseback, Illustrated]
Author
INUOUMONO NO ZU 犬追物之図
Condition
Unknown