Defeat of the Mongols in the Western Sea
Utagawa (Gountei) Sadahide Japanese
Described at upper right in a text by journalist Sansantei Arindo (Jōno Saigiku; 1832–1902), this triptych imagines the destruction of Chinese Yuan-dynasty forces by typhoon after their attempted sea invasions in the late thirteenth century. Japanese forces gather on the beach holding banners, one of which features a red circle on a white ground with the Buddhist mantra “Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō” (Glory to the Lotus Sutra). According to legendary early modern accounts, the monk Nichiren created such a banner, which led to divine intervention on Japan’s behalf. In this triptych, three Shinto gods descend from the sky, bringing rain and lightning to destroy the invaders.
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