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Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre or Mitsukuni Defying the Skeleton Spectre Invoked by Princess Takiyasha (Japanese: 相馬の古内裏妖怪がしゃどくろと戦う大宅太郎光圀) is an ukiyo-e woodblock triptych by Japanese artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798–1861). Kuniyoshi was known for his depictions of historical and mythical scenes, and combined both in portraying the tenth-century princess Takiyasha summoning a skeleton spectre 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.

A copy of the print is housed in the Honolulu Museum of Art in the United States, having been donated by its previous owner, Victor S. K. Houston, in 1941.^[1]

Historical context

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.

Bibliography

Jackson, Anna, ed. (2001). V&A: A Hundred Highlights. V&A Publications.

References

^ "Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Specter from the Story of Utö Yasutaka". Honolulu Museum of Art. Archived from the original on May 5, 2016.

External links

Media related to Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre, by Utagawa Kuniyoshi at Wikimedia Commons

[1] "Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Specter from the Story of Utö Yasutaka". Honolulu Museum of Art. Archived from the original on May 5, 2016.

[1]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Triptych print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi}}
-[[File:Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre.jpg|thumb|''Triptych of Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre'', c.1844, Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797 - 1861) V&A Museum no. E.1333:1 to 3-1922]]
+{{italic title}}
-'''''Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre''''' is a [[Woodblock printing in Japan|woodblock print]] by the Japanese artist [[Utagawa Kuniyoshi]] (1798-1861), who was especially renowned for his depictions of historical and mythical scenes. This print combined these two subjects in portraying the tenth-century princess Takiyasha summoning a skeleton spectre to frighten Ōya no Mitsukuni.
+[[File:Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre.jpg|thumb|upright=2.3|alt=|''Triptych of Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre'', {{circa|1844}}, [[Utagawa Kuniyoshi]] (1797–1861), [[Victoria and Albert Museum|V&A Museum]] no. E.1333:1 to 3-1922]]
+'''''Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre''''' or '''''Mitsukuni Defying the Skeleton Spectre Invoked by Princess Takiyasha''''' ({{langx|ja|相馬の古内裏 妖怪がしゃどくろと戦う大宅太郎光圀}}) is an [[ukiyo-e]] woodblock [[triptych]] by Japanese artist [[Utagawa Kuniyoshi]] (1798–1861).  Kuniyoshi was known for his depictions of historical and mythical scenes, and combined both in portraying the tenth-century princess Takiyasha summoning a skeleton spectre 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.
+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.
+A copy of the print is housed in the [[Honolulu Museum of Art]] in the United States, having been donated by its previous owner, [[Victor S. K. Houston]], in 1941.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://honolulumuseum.org/art/10270 |title=Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Specter from the Story of Utö Yasutaka |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date= |website=[[Honolulu Museum of Art]] |publisher= |access-date= |quote= |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505072136/http://honolulumuseum.org/art/10270 |archivedate=May 5, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
 ==Historical context==
-The historical Princess Takiyasha was the daughter of the provincial warlord [[Taira no Masakado]], who tried to set up an "Eastern Court" in [[Shimōsa Province]] in competition with the emperor in [[Heian-kyō]] (modern [[Kyoto]]). Masakado's rebellion was put down in the year 939 and he was killed. After his death, Princess Takiyasha continued living in the ruined palace of Sōma.
+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 conspirators.
+This print shows a mythical episode in which the emperor's official, Mitsukuni, comes to search for surviving insurrectionary conspirators.
 ==See also==
+*[[Toyohara Chikanobu]], a later ukiyo-e artist of the [[Meiji period]] who designed another print of Princess Takiyasha
-*[[Taira no Masakado]], the father of the historical princess depicted.
+*[[Gashadokuro]], a mythical creature whose popular depiction was based on this print
-*[[Toyohara Chikanobu]], a later, Meiji-era woodblock artist who created a print with a similar supernatural depiction of Princess Takiyasha
 ==Bibliography==
-*{{cite book|author=Jackson, Anna (ed.)|title= V&A: A Hundred Highlights|publisher=V&A Publications|year=2001}}
+*{{cite book|editor=Jackson, Anna|title= V&A: A Hundred Highlights|publisher=V&A Publications|year=2001}}
+==References==
+{{Reflist}}
+==External links==
+*{{commons category-inline}}
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Takiyasha the Witch and the Skeleton Spectre}}
+[[Category:1840s prints]]
 [[Category:Asian objects in the Victoria and Albert Museum]]
-[[Category:Japanese art]]
+[[Category:Fiction about skeletons]]
-[[Category:1840s works]]
+[[Category:Works by Utagawa Kuniyoshi]]
+[[Category:Skulls in art]]