Images(3)

Ushiwaka-Maru Asleep by Söjöbö

Titles

Sōjōbō no soba de nete iru Ushiwakamaru
僧正坊の側で寝ている牛若丸

Artist Shibata Zeshin (Japanese, 1807–1891)

Dateca. 1873-1891

GeographyJapan

MediumLacquer on paper

Dimensions4 1/4 x 3 5/16 in. (10.8 x 8.4 cm)

ClassificationsPaintings

Credit LineGift of The James Edward and Mary Louise O'Brien Collection, 1978 (4659.1)

Object number4659.1

DescriptionA small album leaf which shows the king of the mythical birdmen or Tengu, Sojobo, reading, and his famous fencing pupil, Ushiwaka-maru (the early name of Minamoto no Yoshitsune, whose father Yoshimoto, was killed in the Heiji War of 1160), probably on temple ground at Mt. Kurama, on the night of a full moon. The king is depicted as usual with a long-crooked nose, white beard and huge piercing eyes; he wears a red kimono and the small cap of the yamabushi (literally, mountain warriors), a type of traveling priest, perched on his huge head; his pupil wears a green and yellow kimono. Album leaf mounted as a hanging scroll; lacquer on paper (black, red, green, and yellow).

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