Ox (Ushi): Kidōmaru, from the series Bravery Matched with the Twelve Animals of the Zodiac (Buyū mitate jūnishi) 「鬼童丸　丑」 『武勇見立十二支』

Object Details

• Artist

  Utagawa Kuniyoshi 歌川国芳 (1798-1861)

• Publisher

  Minatoya Kohei (Kinsendo) 湊屋小兵衛 (active ca. 1841–1862)

• Label

  The bandit Kidomaru, a former warrior, lies in wait to confront Minamoto no Yorimitsu (948-1021), the warrior hero whom he had previously refused to serve. Having turned to serving villains, such as the demon Shuten Doji, who lived in the mountains and devoured young noble women who had been kidnapped from Kyoto, Kidomaru became a bandit who ambushed his victims by disguising himself in animal skins. In this print Kidomaru uses an ox skin as his disguise. His demoniacal features are reflected in red from the water as he hides on the moor, Ichiharano. The beauty of the landscape, with the white form of the full moon and the grasses represented by unprinted paper, contributes to the poignancy of the lonely villain who does not realize that he will soon die in the combat he eagerly awaits.

• Collection

  National Museum of Asian Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  The Life of Animals in Japanese Art (May 18 to August 18, 2019)

  Masterful Illusions: Japanese Prints from the Anne van Biema Collection (September 15, 2002 to January 9, 2003)

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  The Anne van Biema Collection

• Type

  Print

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

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• Related Resources

  collections.si.edu

• Date

  1700s, 1710s, 1720s, 1770s, 1780s, 1790s, 1730s, 1740s, 1750s, 1760s, 1800s, 1810s, 1820s, 1830s, 1610s, 1650s, 1640s, 1630s, 1620s, 1840s, 1690s, 1680s, 1850s, 1670s, 1860s, 1660s

• Name

  Minatoya, Kohei, Utagawa, Kuniyoshi

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Warrior, Art, Edo period, Japan, (1600 - 1868), Oxen, Japanese Art, Anne van Biema collection, Ukiyo-e, Eastern zodiac

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Prints