The Tale of Shuten Doji

Object Details

• Label

  This is the first scroll of a set of three; the artist and calligrapher are unknown. Painted on paper, the usual material for handscrolls, the scrolls are generously embellished with golden clouds that help define and focus the narrative. The pictorial compositions here are more compact than on the larger set in this exhibition, which is painted on silk. The samurai prepare for their journey to Shuten Doji’s hidden castle after they receive the imperial order to destroy the monster and pray to the Shinto gods for assistance. They are guided by an elderly man and two others who are actually gods of three Shinto shrines in human form.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  The Tale of Shuten Doji (March 21 to September 20, 2009)

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Purchase — Charles Lang Freer Endowment

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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• Date

  1700s, 1710s, 1720s, 1500s, 1590s, 1770s, 1540s, 1780s, 1530s, 1790s, 1100s, 1520s, 1300s, 1510s, 1730s, 1580s, 1740s, 1570s, 1750s, 1560s, 1760s, 1550s, 1800s, 1810s, 1820s, 1830s, 1610s, 1650s, 1640s, 1630s, 1400s, 1620s, 1200s, 1690s, 1840s, 1680s, 1850s, 1000s, 1860s, 1670s, 1660s

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Tale of Shuten Doji, Art, Shuten Doji, Edo period, Japan, (1600 - 1868), Japanese Art, Emakimono (Scrolls)

• Culture

  Japanese

• Language

  Japanese language

• Object Type

  Paintings