RAN
Book Project
YEAR 2020
CLIENT Verlag Hermann Schmidt (Germany) / re|space gallery (Germany)
FORMAT Scratchboard Art
Japanese warlord Hidetora Ichimonji decides the time has come to retire and divide his fiefdom among his three sons.
His eldest and middle sons - Taro and Jiro - agree with his decision and promise to support him for his remaining days. The youngest son Saburo disagrees with all of them arguing that there is little likelihood the three brothers will remain united.
Insulted by his son's brashness, the warlord banishes Saburo. As the warlord begins his retirement, he quickly realizes that his two eldest sons selfish and have no intention of keeping their promises. It leads to war and only banished Saburo can possibly save him.
Storyboard
"Ran" is based on the film by Akira Kurosawa. As I watched this film to the end, I had an unconscious idea - to reinterpret the philosophical samurai spirit in the film through illustrations. Inspired also by Prof. Hans Hillmann's book "Fliegenpapier", I decided to present this story as an interactive illustration in a combination of drawings and sounds.
A mass of mounted Samurai, dressed for hunting, are galloping through the tall summer grass, which waves wildly as they storm by.
The Samurai in the lead, old but tough, draws his bow, aiming at the prey.
This is a mountain caste. It rises resolutely in front of a rigid mountain, at the top of a steep slope. It is even smaller than the Second Castle, but the marks of recent repair and enlargement are still new. A dead silence within the castle.
With a great shout, they whirl about and struggle furiously, sending up dust. The whirl of dust surrounds the golden character on the banner. At that moment, an arrow, its feathers whistling, flies into the retainer’s chest. He groans and falls down the stone wall. Hidetora’s retainers and Taro’s are startled for an instant, then look around to see where the arrow came from.
Hidetora standing on the upper story, his foot on the windowsill, one of his sleeves rolled up, holding a bow in his other hand. He has the fierce bearing of a ferocious warrior.
Hidetora is instantly cornered. After a moment’s hesitation, he signs indignantly the pledge and seals it with his blood. He throws the paper at Taro. Then he springs to his feet, kicking over the bottles of saké and food that have been prepared.
Retainers open the great doors on orders from Ogura - all have the appearances of screaming demons.
The spear-carriers’ brigade and the riflers’ brigade rush at the castle like an avalanche. The corpses of Hidetora’s retainers are trampled underfoot by them, spurting out blood. The glitter of spears and swords; black smoke and dust enwrap the swaying flagpole.
The mad Hidetora goes staggering down the slope. Samurai and foot soldiers slide away to open up his path but cannot avert their eyes from him.
The mad Hidetora comes out staggering. Soldiers make way for him, watching him. The ranks break, and Jiro appears. Following Jiro are Kurogane, Shirane, Naganuma, Ikoma, and Ogura. Jiro gazes at Hidetora from behind, then spontaneously runs after him.
SABURO: Father! Don’t you recognize me?
HIDETORA: Who do you mean by “Father”? Wait. I remember. I had three sons. And you seem to be one of them. It is true! You are Saburo! How can I show my face to you? With what words should I apologize?
Saburo gazes at his old father, tears running down his cheeks.
"Freistil 7 - Das Buch der Illustration", Verlag Hermann Schmidt
ISBN-13: 978-3874399524
Number of Pages: 376
©2025 Ailun Jiang