「坂田金時」 / ARC浮世絵ポータルデータベース
Sakata no Kintoki (Kintaro)
Kimitoki Sakata, one of the Four Heavenly Kings (four famous retainers) of Yorimitsu, possessed a mysterious power. Details about his life, including the dates of his birth and death, are unknown, but he is known as a character in dynamic heroic tales such as Yorimitsu's extermination of Shuten-doji and Tsuchigumo.
Kintaro: Familiar to all
Kintaro is the childhood name of Sakata Kintoki, who is said to be one of Minamoto no Yorimitsu's Four Heavenly Kings. Kintaro was born as a son of a yamamba (old mountain hag) living in Mt. Ashigara. He is known as a boy with vermilion skin, wearing a belly band with the character "金 Kin/gold" on it, and with monstrous strength, wrestling with a bear. Kintaro is familiar in modern times as a May festive doll. In the Meiji period (1868-1912), Kintaro became familiar through the children's song "Kintaro".
From Kintaro to Sakata no Kintoki
Kintaro was praised by Yorimitsu for his power, and was named Sakata no Kintoki and taken under his vassalage. This illustration is a leaflet of a float from the Sendai float festival, showing the float sculpted at the moment Kintaro leaves the mountain in his armor, having completed his ceremony of attaining manhood by Yorimitsu.
Kintoki in Kabuki
The above is an actor's portrait painted by Utagawa Toyokuni I in 1808 (Bunka 5). Minamoto no Yorimitsu was played by Sawamura Gennosuke and Sakata no Kintoki by Ichikawa Danjuro. This painting suggests that Kintoki was not just a vassal to Minamoto no Yorimitsu, but also his right-hand man. Kintoki is depicted here with vermillion skin, and we can see that the image of Kintoki's vermilion skin also existed in this era.