The back cover is a woodblock print by Kuniyoshi depicting the death of Banzuin Chobe'e, the leader of a prominent gang of the townsmen of Edo...I think this guy's name is also spelled Chobei or Kobei in some sources. According to some online sources the yakuza consider him a founding father, while in kabuki he's often an honorable Robin Hood figure. Either way, he looks totally badass here. For crying out loud, he's got a spear going through his leg and the dude is just kicking back having a drink. And then apparently he dies.
I wish I had a better scan to share with you, but this is from the back cover of a library book with a plastic cover protector taped in place. By the way, the book is Samurai Warlords: The Book of the Daimyo by Stephen Turnbull. Mr. Turnbull penned several books on the subject.
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Nice picture!
ReplyDeleteStephen Turnbull has done a lot of work for Osprey:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Turnbull_(historian)
Well worth looking into if you are looking for visual references.
Yes, I have a couple of books here by Mr. Turnbull as well. The Osprey books are definitely good visual aids.
ReplyDeleteOsprey! I thought I had seen this guy's name on other things before! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIf you like Japanese woodblock prints you might check out Yoshitoshi
ReplyDeletehttp://web.inter.nl.net/hcc/rekius/36ghosts.htm