歌川国芳による浮世絵「Rear Guard Amakasu Omi no Kami (Kagemochi) of the Uesugi Clan at Kawanakajima」

作品名：Rear Guard Amakasu Omi no Kami (Kagemochi) of the Uesugi Clan at Kawanakajima

制作年：about 1844

説明：

The warrior Amakasu Kagemochi performed valiantly during the fourth battle at Kawanakajima (1561). When his master, Uesugi Kenshin, foiled the planned enemy operation by crossing Chikuma River and attacking Takeda no Shingen's headquarters, Kagemochi was left in command of about 3000 men at the Amenomiya river ford. Through his position as 'Rear Guard,' Kagemochi could delay-but not halt-the 8000-man unit of Shingen's troops, which having been fooled by Kenshin's secret escape from Mount Saijo, was rushing back to headquarters. This print is part of a bust-portrait series of famous generals from both the Takeda and Uesugi clans. Aware of the arrival of the enemy troops, silhouetted on the other side of the river, Kagemochi is here seen brandishing a halberd. To announce his high rank he wears elegant blue-laced armor, covered by a campaign coat (jinbaori) decorated with a dragon design, and a headband with a fore-crest of a mythical fish-dragon (shachi-hoko). Armor-making flourished from the mid to late sixteenth century as battles began to depend on the mass mobilization of foot soldiers. Generals therefore sought to distinguish themselves with colorful armor and unusual, fantastic headgear.

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