Friday 6 May 2011

Portuguese in Japan, my 28mm painted Rodrigues.



This so-called namban (literally, "southern barbarian") screen depicts some of the Portuguese who arrived in Japan in the Azuchi-Momoyama and very early Edo periods. There remain today only about 60 examples of this namban genre. This is an especially important work because the name of its painter, Kano Naizen, is known. The bottom screen shows Portuguese departing from a port in one of their colonies in Southeast Asia, and the top screen shows them entering a Japanese port and engaging in trade activities. A group of the foreigners are walking in the direction of a Jesuit chapel (nambanji). The artist was active during the Azuchi-Momoyama period and was a close associate of military and political leader Toyotomi Hideyoshi.


1543—Portuguese Arrive in Japan


Blown off course during a storm, Portuguese traders shipwrecked near Tangeshima island off the southern coast of Japan. Intrigued by the Portuguese firearms, the local daimyo warlord bought two guns from the European sailors and commissioned his swordsmith to make copies. The daimyo then asked the Portuguese for shooting lessons.



1549—Jesuit Missionaries Settle in Japan

Eager for more firearms, the Japanese warlords welcomed trade with the Portuguese. Along with trade, the Portuguese brought Christian missionaries, and in 1549, Francis Xavier established Japan's first mission at Kagoshima. Jesuit missionary Luis Frois arrived later and wrote Historia de Japan, which covered the years 1549-1593. The book provided most of the known information about contemporary Japan at that time.

I have used a mixture of wargames foundry elizabethan british and spanish figures to portray the portuguese conquistadors or sometimes known as discoverers and this figure is listed as Lord Hawksmoor in the foundry catalogue. I have about 80 portuguese in total including Jesuits and artillery and will post pictures of the rest, somebody asked how many samurai I had, I have hundreds including ninja, ronin, Ikko Ikki etc...... 

My Rodrigues bought a long time ago, bonus points for where that name comes from?



45 comments:

  1. I watched the entire Shogun Epic on New Years Day. I have to go to work on my 28mm Japanese.

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  2. Re: Rodrigues Quiz – Wasn't Rodrigues the character played by John Rhys-Davies in the movie SHOGUN?

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  3. Great post Fran, when are we gonna see all the Samurai figures you've painted??

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  4. Yes, Mr. Bard and Mr. Hingley as far as I can tell you are both correct! I actulay just got done watching Shogun last week. Kind of went on a kick after smashing my way to Kyoto on Shogun totalwar 2.

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  5. He does resemble you I think. God made man in his own creation. So did you I guess

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  6. Very nice. This is going to be an interesting project to follow.

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  7. informative posts, thanks. :)

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  8. Nicely done Fran. Just like I imagined from the book!

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  9. Shogun was actually a surprisingly good miniseries, in my opinion. One of these days I'm going to have to sit down and read the book.

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  10. Nice. Like the history supporting the post too.

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  11. That little guy has an epic mustache!!

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  12. lol at first i thought those bushes behind rodriguez was marijuana. and to get free shit just like answer emails with your address and sometimes they send u free stuff.

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  13. Portuguese explorer Diogo Rodrigues

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  14. john rhys was also in Indiana Jones!

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  15. I wish I can grow an epic beard like him!

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  16. The base looks great too. It's also good to get that context on the models. Puts it in perspective.

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  17. You really like wargaming, ever do D&D?

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  18. @Finn Phoenix: No but always regretted it.

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  19. another great work!!!

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  20. Nice little bit of more history, and great looking little figure. It's hard to believe this all happened in the 1500s.

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  21. Great looking figure Fran

    i agree with Ray though, you'll need to start posting some pics of your Samurai

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  22. I always trade with the Nambans in Shogun 2 so I can get the European cannons.

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  23. Well, it's the Spanish pilot Rodrigues of the black ship and friend of the Ingeles known as Blackthorne of course from the novel Shogun. As you know my favourite book and he looks just great!

    Christopher

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  24. I never saw Shogun, so I can't make any comments on the resemblance, but the piece does definitely look good.

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  25. lovely work as always. I´v never seen Shogun tho. (sadly)

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  26. Great looking figure !!! Well done friend !!

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  27. As usual, amazing paintwork man, very detailed, loving your blog ;D

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  28. lmfao nice comment that u left. its funny cause thats how my buddies and i talk to each other too. and that waldo chick is hot, shes actually one of the new ufc ring girls.

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  29. dude's got style, nice color combo. the monochrome color pallet is so over.

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  30. I don't get the bonus points since I don't know where Rodrigues came from. But I did give Wiggy a pat from her Uncle Lurker and she said, "thanks".

    She's doing good today. Down for a nappy nap. Not a bad idea at that.

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  31. Good post. You've got art, history, and another cool figure.

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  32. Impressive, as usual Lurker

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  33. Very impressive, as usual ;D

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  34. wow that figure looks really good, really nice work there lurker. keep it up

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  35. Nice to see my country men represented. wonderfull work.

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  36. I adore japanese paintings! and it's so good to hear about portuguese history outside portugal :D

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