Massacres In Manchuria: Sino-Japanese War Prints 1894-5 (Ukiyo-e Master Series) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1840683171 ISBN 13: 9781840683172

Publisher: Shinbaku Books, 2014

Synopsis

The first Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 was Japan's first modern war, and their first military action overseas for over 300 years. One notable result of this conflict was a huge burst in popularity for senso-e ("war pictures"), a genre of ukiyo-e which first evolved as a mutation of musha-e ("warrior pictures") with the need in the 1870s to document the contemporary conflicts which had raged in Japan as a result of the Meiji Restoration, in particular the Seinan War of 1877.

Dozens of artists, from the celebrated to the obscure, added to the mass of images which circulated as the Sino-Japanese War progressed (an estimated 3,000 prints were created in just 10 months). Most of the scenes depicted were based on news reports sent back from the front, with artists rushing to replicate events as quickly as possible. The triptych, with its almost cinematic visual scope, was the preferred format for depicting such scenes of turmoil and carnage. Whilst there is a huge range in quality between the prints made by various artists, the very best senso-e of the Sino-Japnese War remain amongst the finest in ukiyo-e, providing a bold, if brief, resurrection for an artform which was in danger of dying out due to the advent of new imaging technologies.

MASSACRES IN MANCHURIA features over 200 rare and exceptional Japanese woodblock prints of war. The artists featured in the book include Kiyochika, Gekko, Toshihide, Toshikata, Nobukazu, Chikanobu, Ginko, and numerous others ― a list of many of the most outstanding ukiyo-e artists of the late Meiji period, each of whom used their immense artistic talent and imagination to brilliantly illuminate contemporary conflict as it unfurled.

About this title

About the Author

Jack Hunter is the author and editor of over 30 books on cinema, counter-culture and Japanese art.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

INTRODUCTION

1. THE CLASH

The first Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 was, in essence, a clash between Japan and China for dominion over the kingdom of Korea. The Korean peninsula, which lay between the two countries, had historically provided Japan's enemies with a deadly invasion platform, something they were determined would never happen again. A series of events, from the anti-Japanese riots of 1882 to the Tonghak revolt of May 1894 and subsequent arrival of Chinese troops at Asan, gave Japan the pretext it needed to push its own military into Korea, which it did in July 1894. On July 23, Japanese soldiers entered the Korean royal palace in Seoul to instigate regime change to a pro-Nippon goverment; after a skirmish which left a number of Korean guards dead and wounded, the new administration was established. Its first request to Japan was for them to remove Chinese forces from Asan. Two days later, on July 25, a famous sea battle occurred near the island of Phung-do; three Japanese warships ― the Yoshino, Naniwa, and Akitsushima ― engaged two Chinese vessels. When other ships approached, including British troop-carrier the Kowshing, the Kowshing was asked to surrender; when it failed to do so it was sunk by the Naniwa, casting around one thousand Chinese troops into the sea to drown. Another vessel, the Chinese gunship Tsao-Kiang, was crippled and captured. On July 29, the Japanese launched their assault on Asan and Songhwan, a neighbouring army fortress. Victory came swiftly, with troops occupying Asan unchallenged on July 30. It was the first military action by Japan on foreign soil for over 300 years. War between China and Japan was officially declared on August 1.

2. SLAUGHTER IN PYONGYANG

Japan's first priority was to drive the Chinese out of Korea, and to that end they launched a massive assault on the northern city of Pyongyang, where the Chinese forces were gathering. Some 17,000 soldiers of the Japanese First Army marched on the city, breaching the Taidong river and attacking at dawn on September 15. Although they met with fierce resistance from some elements, others ― including the Chinese supreme commander ― fled. Japanese troops commanded by General Nozu Michitsura and Major General Oshima Yoshimasa entered Pyongyang on September 16, finding few opposing troops. The Chinese, who lost over 2,000 soldiers in the battle (as opposed to Japan's 180), had surrendered their last foothold in Korea. But for Japan, that was just the beginning. ...

Edition details

• Publisher: Shinbaku Books
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1840683171
• ISBN 13: 9781840683172
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 128
• Editor: Hunter Jack