Takiyasha and the Skeleton Spectre
by Weston Westmoreland
Title
Takiyasha and the Skeleton Spectre
Artist
Weston Westmoreland
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre or Mitsukuni Defying the Skeleton Spectre Invoked by Princess Takiyasha, Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798–1861).
Takiyasha is an ukiyo-e woodblock triptych by Japanese artist Kuniyoshi, who was known for his depictions of historical and mythical scenes. In this work he combined both in portraying the tenth-century princess Takiyasha summoning a skeleton spectre (nown as Gashadokuro or Odokuro) to frighten Ōya no Mitsukuni.
In the image, the princess recites a spell written on a handscroll, summoning a giant skeleton. It rears out of a black void, crashing its way through the tattered palace blinds with its bony fingers to menace Mitsukuni and his companion.
The historical Princess Takiyasha was the daughter of the provincial warlord Taira no Masakado of Sōma, who tried to set up an "Eastern Court" in Shimōsa Province in competition with the emperor in Heian-kyō (modern Kyoto). That rebellion was put down in the year 939 and he was defeated, then decapitated. After his death, Princess Takiyasha continued living in the ruined shōen, or rural manor-house, of the Sōma clan, Masakado's former residence.
This print shows a mythical episode in which the emperor's official, Mitsukuni, comes to search for surviving insurrectionary conspirators.
More amazing paintings one copy-paste away at my gallery at https://weston-westmoreland.pixels.com/collections/paintings
Weston Westmoreland
Uploaded
November 15th, 2022
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