Musha Jūroku Musashi (A Jūroku Musashi Game of Warriors)

US$740.00

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Musha Jūroku Musashi ["A Jūroku Musashi Game of Warriors"]

Ōsai [Utagawa], Fusatane [illustrated by].

Bakurochō, [Tōkyō]: Higuchi Gintarō, [ca. Meiji period (1880-90s?)].

A variation on a classic Japanese strategy game, Jūroku Musashi ("Sixteen Soldiers"). In the game, which is believed to have originated in the Edo period, two players first decide who is to play the "parent" (the large playing piece) and who is to play the "child" (the sixteen small playing pieces). The child wins the game if they manage to trap the parent between the smaller pieces, whereas the parent wins if they capture enough child pieces to make trapping the parent impossible. There are, of course, various rules regarding how the pieces can move across the game "board". This variation of the game, woodblock-printed with the bright red pigment characteristic of the Meiji period, features famous historical warriors including Wada Yoshimori, Takeda Shingen, and Taira no Tomomori as the playing pieces. The game was typically played by children, and in the Meiji period was particularly popular as a New Year's pastime. 

One folding game sheet with seventeen card playing pieces, complete. Creases, folds, and small tears (repaired) to game sheet. Colour woodblock-printed title piece tipped-in to game sheet verso. Playing pieces with light marks, backed on presumed non-original card. Sheet measures 25.4 x 9.9 cm when folded. Largest playing piece measures 5.4 cm in diameter; smaller pieces measure 3.5 cm in diameter.

Musha Jūroku Musashi (A Jūroku Musashi Game of Warriors)
Price: $740.00 (USD)