Yoshitsuya: Fight Between Yorimitsu & Hakamadare |
This is a print from 1858, by Utagawa Yoshitsuya. Its complete title is "Battle Between Minamoto no Yorimitsu and his men and Hakamadare Yasusuke, assisted by a giant snake”.
Minamoto no Yorimitsu (aka Raiko) was a legendary Samurai hero, and Hakamadare Yasusuke, a likewise legendary bandit chief.
Hakamadare turns up in two stories in Konjaku Monogatari, an ancient collection of tales. In this print, Yorimitsu tries to destroy Hakamadare's magic.