The Hidden Sovereign: A Dragon Beneath the Lantern

The Hidden Sovereign: A Dragon Beneath the Lantern

Ichimura Uzaemon IX as Shingen in “A String of Prayer Beads Shaken at a Ribbon of Waterfall” | Cleveland Museum of Art

Once the center print of a triptych (a composition of three prints), this design shows Ichimura Uzaemon IX playing Takeda Harunobu (1521–1573), a storied general who received the name Shingen upon taking Buddhist vows. In the story, Shingen attempts to cut off his enemy’s water supply, using a spell to imprison the dragon god who controlled it. However, a young woman named Sakura-hime gets him drunk. While he is indisposed, she and her lover release the dragon, whereupon it rains. Here, Shingen, in Buddhist robes, grips his string of prayer beads between his teeth.

Eight Scenes of Cherry Blossoms: Spring Rain (Sakura hachidai: Harusame) | Cleveland Museum of Art