Utagawa Kunisada (歌川国貞) / Toyokuni III (三代豊国) (artist 1786 – 01/12/1865)
Zhang Fei (張飛 - Jp: Chōhi) thundering at Changban Bridge (長坂橋)
ca 1822 – 1826
10.25 in x 13.75 in (Overall dimensions) Japanese woodblock print
Signed: Gototei Kunisada ga
五渡亭国貞画
Publisher: Kawaguchiya Uhei (Marks 232 - seal 21-142)
Censor's seal: kiwame
Hagi Uragami Museum of Art
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston - a similar representation by Kuniyoshi from ca. 1836
Rijksmuseum - ca.1816 surimono of Chōhi on the bridge The belligerent figure of the mounted warrior Chōhi (aka Zhang Fei), armed with his formidable spear, warding off the enemy hordes on Changban Bridge. Chōhi was a warrior hero of The Wars of the Three Kingdoms in the early third century. One of Kunisada's rarest early musha-e designs.
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The Romance of the Three Kindgoms is a popular subject of the Beijing opera and other theater forms in China. In a footnote in Marionette Plays from Northern China there is a footnote that clearly describes what leads up and includes the scene that is presented here by Kunisada. "In chapter 42 of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhao Yun 赵雲 rescued Liu Bei's son at the slope of Changban 长板坡 while being chased by the forces of their enemy, Cao Cao 曹操. Zhang Fei met them at Changban Bridge 长坂桥, also known as Dangyang Bridge 当阳桥... Sitting on his horse on the bridge, Zhang Fei gave three such fearful, thunderous roars that Cao's army was scared away."
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A description of Zhang Fei
"The story goes that there was a man named Zhang Fei, also known as Yide, who hailed from Fanyang in Zhuo Prefecture, in the princedom of Yan. From birth he had the head of a panther and round eyes, the jowls of a swallow, and the whiskers of a tiger; his body was more than nine feet tall, and his voice resounded like a huge bell. He came from a very rich family. Because he was idly standing outside, he saw Lord Guan pass through the streets: his physique was extraordinary, but his clothes were in tatters—he was not a local man. So he stepped forward and greeted Lord Guan with a bow, which the latter returned."
Quoted from: Records of the Three Kingdoms in Plain Language, p. 14.
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Chapter 42 of The Romance of the Three Kingdoms: "Screaming Zhang Fei stops the enemy at Long Slope Bridge"
"Wen Ping and his company pursued Zhao Yun till they saw Zhang Fei's bristling mustache and fiercely glowing eyes before them. There he was seated on his battle steed, his hand grasping his terrible octane-serpent spear, guarding the bridge. They also saw great clouds of dust rising above the trees and concluded they would fall into an ambush if they ventured across the bridge. So they stopped the pursuit, not daring to advance further."
"In time Cao Ren... and other generals of Cao Cao came up, but none dared advance, frightened by Zhang Fei's fierce look, but lest they should become victims of a ruse of Zhuge Liang. As they came up they formed a line on the west side, halting till they could inform their lord of the position."
"As soon as the messengers arrived and Cao Cao heard about it, he mounted and rode to the bridge to see for himself. Zhang Fei's fierce eye scanning the hinder position of the army opposite him saw the silken umbrella, the axes and banners coming along, and concluded that Cao Cao came to see for himself how matters stood."
"So in a mighty voice he shouted: "I am Zhang Fei of Yan; who dares fight with me?"
"At the sound of this thunderous voice, a terrible quaking fear seized upon Cao Cao, and he bade them take the umbrella away. Turning to his followers, he said, "Guan Yu had said that his brother Zhang Fei was the sort of man to go through an army of a hundred legions and take the head of its commander-in-chief, and do it easily. Now here is this terror in front of us, and we must be careful."
"As he finished speaking, again that terrible voice was heard, "| am Zhang Fei of Yan; who dares fight with me?" "
"Cao Cao, seeing his enemy so fierce and resolute, was too frightened to think of anything but retreat; and Zhang Fei, seeing a movement going on in the rear, once again shook his spear and roared, "What mean you? You will not fight nor do you run away!" "
"This roar had scarcely begun when one of Cao Cao's staff, Xiahou Jie, reeled and fell from his horse terror-stricken, paralyzed with fear. The panic touched Cao Cao and spread to his whole surroundings, and he and his staff galloped for their lives. They were as frightened as a suckling babe at a clap of thunder or a weak woodcutter at the roar of a tiger. Many threw away their spears, dropped their casques and fled, a wave of panic-stricken humanity, a tumbling mass of terrified horses. None thought of ought but flight, and those who ran trampled the bodies of fallen comrades under foot."
Zhang Fei was wrathful; and who dared"Panic-stricken Cao Cao galloped westward with the rest, thinking of nothing but getting away. He lost his headdress and his loosened hair streamed behind him. Presently Zhang Liao and Xu Chu came up with him and seized his bridle; fear had deprived him of all self-control."
To accept his challenge? Fierce he glared;
His thunderous voice rolled out, and then
In terror fled Cao Cao's armed soldiers.
"Do not be frightened," said Zhang Liao. "After all Zhang Fei is but one man and not worthy of extravagant fear. If you will only return and attack, you will capture your enemy."
"That time Cao Cao had somewhat overcome his panic and become reasonable. Two generals were ordered back to the bridge to reconnoiter."
"Zhang Fei saw the disorderly rout of the enemy but he dared not pursue. However, he bade his score or so of dust-raising followers to cut loose the branches from their horses' tails and come to help destroy the bridge. This done he went to report to his brother and told him of the destruction of the bridge."
"Brave as you are, Brother, and no one is braver; but you are no strategist," said Liu Bei."
"What mean you, Brother?"
"Cao Cao is very deep. You are no match for him. The destruction of the bridge will bring him in pursuit."
"If he ran away at a yell of mine, think you he will dare return?"
"If you had left the bridge, he would have thought there was an ambush and would not have dared to pass it. Now the destruction of the bridge tells him we are weak and fearful, and he will pursue. He does not mind a broken bridge. His legions could fill up the biggest rivers that we could get across."
"So orders were given to march, and they went by a bye-road which led diagonally to Hanjin by the road of Minyang."
"The two generals sent by Cao Cao to reconnoiter near Long Slope Bridge returned, saying, "The bridge has been destroyed; Zhang Fei has left."
"Then he is afraid," said Cao Cao.
"Cao Cao at once gave orders to set ten thousand men at work on three floating bridges to be finished that night."
Quoted from: The Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong, translated by C. H. Brewitt Taylor, 1925.
warrior prints (musha-e - 武者絵) (genre)
Kawaguchiya Uhei (川口屋卯兵衛) (publisher)