Dragon (Tatsu): Susanoo no Mikoto, from the series Bravery Matched with the Twelve Animals of the Zodiac (Buyū mitate jūnishi) 「素盞雄尊　辰」 『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

  Susano'o no Mikoto, the impetuous brother of the sun goddess, stares into the waves where a dragon lurks. This scene recalls an eight-headed, eight-tailed serpent that Susano'o no Mikoto killed. From its tail he retrieved the sword that became one of the regalia of the Japanese imperial lineage. The color contrasts and the fine, graded printing of the stylized waves make this an arresting image of this hero from Japanese national mythology.

• 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

  Wave, Art, Edo period, Japan, (1600 - 1868), Japanese Art, Anne van Biema collection, Portraits, Heroes, Ukiyo-e, Eastern zodiac, Dragon

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Prints