Urashima Tarō rijdend op een schildpad

Kawanabe Kyōsai

after 1888

Urashima Tarō rijdend op een schildpad by Kawanabe Kyōsai, after 1888

In this whimsical hanging scroll, the legendary fisherman Urashima Tarō is caught mid-journey, riding a giant tortoise toward a misty, floating palace in the sky. Dressed in traditional blue robes and clutching a fishing rod, he looks up in wonder at the Dragon Palace (Ryugu-jo), the underwater realm he's about to visit as a reward for saving the turtle's life. Kawanabe Kyōsai, a playful and rebellious artist known as the 'Goblin of Painting,' brings this classic Japanese folktale to life with loose, expressive brushstrokes and a touch of humor. The scene captures the exact moment of magic before Tarō enters a world where time moves differently, a story that has fascinated Japan for centuries.

Technique
ink and color on paper
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