The son of a Taira clan general, Atsumori was a talented flautist who, during the 1184 Battle of Ichinotani, broke ranks from his clan's retreat to return to the encampment where he had accidentally left behind his flute. He retrieved the instrument, but on his way back to his clan he was confronted by an enemy warrior and killed. Here, as if with premonition, Atsumori's fiancé, Tamaori Hime, clings to her love in an attempt to prevent him from going into battle. Hashira-e (pillar pictures) were often mounted on inexpensive paper in order to be used as hanging scrolls, likely as inexpensive alternatives to silk-mounted Japanese scroll paintings.