Bunbuku chagama
1880
In this whimsical scene from Japanese folklore, a tanuki (raccoon dog) dressed in a kimono sprawls exhaustedly across a low table, its wild eyes staring out at the viewer. This illustrates the legend of the 'Bunbuku Chagama,' where a magical tanuki transforms into a tea kettle to help a poor priest at Morinji Temple make ends meet. The cracked walls and sparse surroundings hint at the temple's poverty, while the kettle hanging nearby suggests the creature has just shifted back from its disguise. Yoshitoshi, a master of the late ukiyo-e period, captures the creature's weary, almost human expression with fantastic detail.
- Technique
- Woodblock print
- Material
- Paper
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