The Battle of Sekigahara: Shimazu’s Retreat (関ケ原合戦 島津の退き口)
| Nº | No.0037 |
|---|---|
| Title | The Battle of Sekigahara: Shimazu’s Retreat (関ケ原合戦 島津の退き口) |
| Material | Oil painting, canvas |
| Size | F120号(1,940×1,303mm) |
| Exhibition name | Gifu Art Exhibition (5th Edition) - Selected |
Picture description
The Sengoku Era, Early Morning of September 15th, 1600
The scene is set in the battle of Sekigahara (present-day Sekigahara Town, Gifu Prefecture), during the pivotal battle between the Western Army, led by Ishida Mitsunari, and the Eastern Army, led by Tokugawa Ieyasu. With both armies totaling 80,000 men, the battle commenced and by noon, Ishida Mitsunari, the Western Army's commander, had withdrawn from the battlefield. Amidst the chaos, only a few hundred men of the Shimazu clan (Satsuma) remained, surrounded by tens of thousands of the Eastern Army, facing a critical decision. It was at this moment that one of the most dramatic episodes in Japanese history unfolded. The legendary warrior, Shimazu Yoshihiro, charged toward Tokugawa Ieyasu's headquarters, with Mount Ibuki at his back. Realizing the threat, the Tokugawa forces quickly fortified their position. Along the way, they engaged with Ii Naomasa’s troops, and Shimazu’s forces changed course towards the direction of Mount Nangu. They broke through the enemy lines and escaped!
Character Introduction (from left to right):
Ii Naomasa (39) – Lord of the Hikone Domain (the model for "Hikonyan"), renowned for his "Red Guard" (赤備え) with red armor. A master of the spear. His banner features a red background with a yellow "I" pattern.
Shimazu Toyohisa (20) – The nephew of Shimazu Yoshihiro, from Sadowara Castle (Miyazaki Prefecture). A brave warrior who fought valiantly for the Shimazu clan. His retainer successfully shot and injured Ii Naomasa, causing his horse to fall. He died in battle.
Shimazu Yoshihiro (65) – The guardian of the Shimazu family. His helmet features the fox, the clan's guardian deity. A renowned general who had defeated armies 10 times larger than his own in previous battles. His armor is made with red silk cords. His banner displays a circle with a cross, and his horse's insignia is a lone pine tree.
Matsui Saburobei – The man who severed Matsudaira Tadayoshi's hand guard. He died in battle.
Matsudaira Tadayoshi (20) – The fourth son of Tokugawa Ieyasu. His armor is silver-plated with white silk thread. A replica of the original armor, now darkened with time, is recreated with gleaming silver foil to reflect the era. In the far right background is Tokugawa Ieyasu’s headquarters, with a golden fan and a red sun motif as the horse insignia, with the Tokugawa family crest, the "Aoi" symbol.
The painting strives to closely match historical details such as the age of the figures, their armor, and the time of day. It is painted in a way that evokes a warm melody, with the piece inspired by Bizet’s opera "Carmen". The composition is designed with a diamond-shaped structure to create a sense of stability and impact.
Creative process
