Momotaro (Peach Boy) is a hero of Japanese folklore. He arrived to Earth in a giant peach and was raised by an elderly couple. With the help of a talking dog, pheasant and monkey, he travelled to a distant island to defeat the oni (demons) living there and returned home a hero. #JapaneseFolklore#folklore#folktale#folktales#JapaneseArt@folklore
Happy Lunar New Year! To welcome in the Year of the Dragon, here is a Japanese ukiyo-e print by Ogata Gekko from 1897, depicting a dragon rising in the sky before Mount Fuji. 🐉 #LunarNewYear#YearOfTheDragon#JapaneseArt#ukiyoe#dragons
"Genji Viewing Snow from a Balcony," Toyohara Kunichika, 1867.
Kunichika (1835-1900) was a noted artist of woodblock prints, mostly of kabuki actors and scenes from kabuki plays, but also of beautiful women and historic scenes. He flourished during the Edo era and the Meiji era, in the days when Japan was on the brink of massive cultural upheaval.
This print depicts a scene from the novel The Tale of Genji, about the life and loves of Prince Genji. Here he is, enjoying tea on his balcony. This may have been part of a triptych, with attendants on either side.
This Sunday, Selene (Ambaran) and I will play Japanese sea musics on flutes & harps in the manga studio of "Keep In Mind" by Kim Houtzager in Nieuwegein.
Supported by @japanfans & the Japans Cultureel Centrum Utrecht, with artwork by Selene, by Kim and by BudoGirl. 😉
This ukiyo-e print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1843) is from the series 'Twenty-four Paragons of Filial Piety of Our Country' and depicts Zen-no-jo of Shinano being shown a vision in a large mirror by two demons and one of the Judges of Hell. #MythologyMonday#ukiyoe#JapaneseArt#JapaneseFolklore
In Japanese mythology, Amaterasu is the goddess of the sun. In one tale, after getting angry at her brother Susanoo, she retreated into a cave causing the world to fall into darkness. After much consideration, the gods came up with a way to lure her out. They placed a mirror outside the cave and Uzume, goddess of the dawn, began to dance provocatively and take off her clothes. Laughter ensued and Amaterasu's curiosity got the better of her. She... #MythologyMonday#folklore#JapaneseFolklore
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...ventured out, caught sight of the mirror and paused to look at her reflection. While she was looking, the gods were able to move a stone in front of the cave's entrance and prevent Amaterasu from going back in. Thus, light was returned to the world.
🎨1. 'Amaterasu' by *tattereddreams via journeying to the goddess.
2. 'Deities Luring Amaterasu from a Cave' - unknown artist, Edo period. #JapaneseArt#ukiyoe
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In Japanese folklore Namazu is a giant catfish who lives under the islands of Japan and causes violent earthquakes. Once people prayed to the gods to stop the earthquakes and they searched everywhere for the cause, finally realising it was Namazu. Eventually the gods found Namazu and put a stone on his head and the earthquakes stopped. However, when they let their guard down, Namazu thrashes about, causing sudden earthquakes. #folklore#mythology#JapaneseFolklore#JapaneseArt#Japan@folklore
Kitsunebi (which translates as fox fire) appear as small balls of coloured light floating in long chains about a metre above the ground. They are often a sign that a fox wedding or demon parade are occurring. This strange phenomenon is caused by magical foxes who breathe out balls of fire and use them as lanterns to light their way at night. Humans can only see the lights, but the kitsune (foxes) remain invisible nearby. #JapaneseFolklore#yokai#folklore#JapaneseArt#ukiyoe@folklore
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This is Luke Power’s collective #installation in Futakawa, Japan 2017. This beautiful artwork was made in a disused school in the local community. Over 20 students took part in the project and was part of a regeneration program and an arts festival in the area. #art#japaneseart
Hokusai’s 53 Stations of the Tōkaidō 1801 is something completely different! It is his first. It is different from the many other well known 53 Stations of the Tōkaidō in that Hokusai does not focus on the landscape and the markers that Hiroshige and others showed. Instead Hokusai focus on the events, the interactions between the travellers, the tales that you will share with your friends when you get back home.
The story goes that Seihō was so impressed with a friend's cat that he bought it and photographed it extensively to make this painting. Supposedly it reminded him of a cat painted by the Chinese Song Dynasty emperor Huizong.
This is of the Nihonga school, a style of Japanese painting emphasizing the use of mineral pigments on silk or paper in a traditional Japanese style, as opposed to the growing Western styles that were becoming common in Japan.
Looks almost real, doesn't it? I love how the eyes confront us, even in mid-lick. This cat is taking no chances.