Palace and horserace at Kamo Shrine

六曲一双の内 左隻 加茂競馬図屏風

This screen conveys the excitement of a day at the races. The setting is probably the annual horserace on the grounds of the Upper Kamo Shrine in Kyoto. In this contest between two groups of ten horses, one rider from each group would race to the goal. The winners were rewarded, usually with rolls of white silk. The painted scene shows two riders engaged in a race while many spectators watch from either side of the track. At the upper right, a young male warrior enters the shrine compound with his entourage. Scenes of dancing and revelry unfold above the racecourse at the left.

Look carefully and you will see representatives of the imperial court—for example, the men seated in the viewing pavilion at the far right—and members of the military elite, shown in the stand at left. At the lower right, warriors guard a spirited horse saddled with leopard and tiger skins. Might this be a samurai warlord’s favorite mount being readied for the next race?