Mongol Invasion Picture Book - Mōkoshūrai Ekotoba

Japanese: 蒙古襲来絵詞 - もうこしゅうらいえことば

A war chronicle picture scroll from the late Kamakura period. Imperial treasure. It mainly depicts the military exploits of Takezaki Suenaga, a vassal of Higo Province who played an active role in the two Mongol invasions of 1274 (Bun'ei 11) and 1281 (Kōan 4), also known as the Bun'ei and Kōan wars. Although there are some errors and scattered parts, it is currently compiled into two volumes. The first volume describes the Suenaga clan's brave fighting in Hakata during the Bun'ei War, and how, despite this, they received no reward from the shogunate, they went down to Kamakura to plead the truth and were given the position of land steward of Higo Kaitogo. The second volume describes the battles at the naval battle of Shikanoshima during the Kōan War. With people's names and other information written into the painting, and accurate depictions of people, horses, weapons, and armor, it clearly shows its character as a documentary painting, and is particularly important as a historical document conveying the battles and armaments of the time. The colophon reads "February 9, 1293 (first year of Einin)," and it is believed to have been produced around that time. It records Suenaga's own military exploits, and he claims that he received the position of land steward thanks to the blessings of Kosa Daimyojin, the guardian deity of Kaito-go, and it is presumed that the painting was produced as a way of repaying that blessing and as a legacy for his descendants.

[Yasushi Murashige]

"Shigemi Komatsu (ed.), "Japanese Picture Scroll Collection 14: Illustrated Tales of the Mongol Invasion" (1978, Chuokoron-Shinsha)

[Reference] | Mongol Invasions

"Illustrated Story of the Mongol Invasion"
Takezaki Suenaga's brave fighting. On June 8, 1281 (Kōan 4), when Takezaki's forces led by Suenaga were setting out, the Kikuchi forces from Higo were fortifying the stone ramparts. Copy held by the National Diet Library .

"Illustrated Story of the Mongol Invasion"

Floating flags as seen in "Mongol Invasion Picture Scroll"
A floating flag with a family crest on a white background and the end cut in two (right), and a floating flag dyed in a deep blue. Copy of "Mongol Invasion Picture Scroll" ( Owned by the National Diet Library )

Floating flags as seen in "Mongol Invasion Picture Scroll"

Military fans as seen in "Mongol Invasion Picture Scroll"
Kikuchi Takefusa holding a black fan with a sun painted on it. Part of "Mongol Shurai Ekotoba" (copy held at the National Diet Library )

Military fans as seen in "Mongol Invasion Picture Scroll"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

Japanese:

鎌倉後期の戦記絵巻。御物。1274年（文永11）と81年（弘安4）の両度の元寇(げんこう)、いわゆる文永(ぶんえい)・弘安(こうあん)の役で活躍した肥後国の御家人(ごけにん)、竹崎季長(すえなが)の戦功を中心に描く。錯簡、散逸があるが、現在二巻に調巻され、上巻は、文永の役で博多(はかた)における季長一門の奮戦ぶりと、それにもかかわらず幕府の恩賞がないので鎌倉に下り真相を訴え、肥後海東郷の地頭(じとう)職を賜ったこと、下巻は、弘安の役において志賀島(しかのしま)の海戦で戦闘するありさまが収められる。画中に人名などの書き込みを施し、また人馬、武器武具などの描写も正確で、記録画としての性格を顕著に示し、とくに当時の戦闘、武装の模様を伝える史料としても重要である。奥書に「永仁(えいにん)元年（1293）二月九日」の年紀があり、このころの制作とみられる。季長自らの戦功を記録したもので、地頭職を得たのは海東郷の氏神甲佐大明神の神恩によるとし、その報恩のためと、子孫に末長く伝えるために制作されたと推定される。

［村重　寧］

『小松茂美編『日本絵巻大成14　蒙古襲来絵詞』（1978・中央公論社）』

[参照項目] | 元寇

『蒙古襲来絵詞』
竹崎季長の奮戦。1281年（弘安4）6月8日、季長はじめ竹崎勢が出撃する場面で、石塁を固めるのは同じく肥後の菊池勢である。写国立国会図書館所蔵">

『蒙古襲来絵詞』

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『蒙古襲来絵詞』にみる流旗

『蒙古襲来絵詞』にみる軍扇
黒塗りに日輪の描かれた扇を持つ菊池武房。『蒙古襲来絵詞』（部分）　写国立国会図書館所蔵">

『蒙古襲来絵詞』にみる軍扇

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