“Seventy of eighty armored and helmeted Genji warriors burst into view on the beach before the main gate. The water, which was at its lowest ebb in the tidal lagoon, reached the horses’ hocks or underbellies in some spots and was even shallower in others.

At the sight of the white banners rising suddenly through a veil of spring haze and spray from horses’ hoofs, the ill-fated Heike felt certain that a mighty army was confronting them Yoshitsune sent out his men in groups of fix, six, seven, eight and ten to conceal his small numbers.

That day, Kurô Tayû no Hôgan Yoshitsune was attired in a red brocade hitatare and a suit of armor with purple-shaded lacing. At his waist, he wore a sword with gilt bronze fittings; on his back, there rode a quiver containing arrows fledged with branded black-and-white feathers.”

From The Tale of the Heike, 363

Statement: Over the centuries there have been many interpretations of the visual image of Yoshitsune. Many of the earlier images faithfully depict him as “fair-skinned and short with buck teeth” – however the romantic and heroic nature of his story caused his image to change into that of a handsome warrior. For example, prints by Yoshitoshi from the 19th Century depict Yoshitsune as a mature well-built warrior with a strong angular face. More recent depictions emphasize Yoshitsune’s youth and thus show him more as a boy.