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Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre

Triptych
19th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Kuniyoshi, Utagawa (maker)
Place of origin
Japan (made)

This striking image illustrates the story of princess Takiyasha, daughter of warload Taira Masakado who started a rebellion against the court in Kyoto. As the rebellion failed and Masakado subsequently killed, the ghosts of soldiers who had fallen during the rebellion haunted Masakado’s palace at Soma. This print captures the moment when Princess Takiyasha summons these ghosts and turns them into an enormous skeleton whilst Oya Taro Mitsukuni, who is sent by the emperor to hunt down the remaining allies of Masakado, faces fearless with the skeleton and eventually defeats the plotters.

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read Japanese woodblock prints (ukiyo-e) Produced in their many thousands and hugely popular during the Edo period (1615 – 1868), these colourful woodblock prints, known as ukiyo-e, depicted scenes from everyday Japan.

Object details

Categories
Images Online
Prints
Object type
Triptych
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Woodblock Print
  • Woodblock Print
  • Woodblock Print
TitleTakiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Woodblock print on paper
Paper
Woodblock Print
Brief description
Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre, by Utagawa Kuniyoshi; signed Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi, woodblock print, Japan, 19th century
Physical description
Woodblock print on paper
Dimensions
  • Height: 35cm
  • Width: 71cm
  • Height: 510mm (with mounts)
  • Width: 920mm (with mounts)
Gallery label
(21/08/2013)
Toshiba Gallery:
This striking image illustrates the story of Princess Takiyasha, daughter of the warlord Taira Masakado. Following his failed rebellion against the court in Kyoto, the ghosts of his soldiers haunted his palace. This print captures the moment when Takiyasha summons the ghosts and turns them into a giant skeleton.
Subjects depicted
Skeleton
Takiyasha
Summary
This striking image illustrates the story of princess Takiyasha, daughter of warload Taira Masakado who started a rebellion against the court in Kyoto. As the rebellion failed and Masakado subsequently killed, the ghosts of soldiers who had fallen during the rebellion haunted Masakado’s palace at Soma. This print captures the moment when Princess Takiyasha summons these ghosts and turns them into an enormous skeleton whilst Oya Taro Mitsukuni, who is sent by the emperor to hunt down the remaining allies of Masakado, faces fearless with the skeleton and eventually defeats the plotters.
Collection
East Asia Collection
Accession number
E.1333:1 to 3-1922

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Record createdJanuary 16, 2003
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O73119/takiyasha-the-witch-and-the-triptych-kuniyoshi-utagawa/
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