TSUKIOKA YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)

TSUKIOKA YOSHITOSHI (1839-1892)

MEIJI PERIOD, 1885

A Japanese woodblock print triptych, entitled 'Fudo Myoo Threatening a Novice', signed Yoshitoshi and with a seal reading Taiso, published by Akiyama Buemon (Kokkeido), all three prints oban tate-e, all approx. 36.4cm x 24.8cm. (3)

See the Metropolitan Museum, New York, access. no.2005.350a-c for another example of this triptych.

The prints illustrate a famous story describing how the Abbot Yuten (1637-1718) or Zojoji Temple prayed to the Buddhist Guardian God for his support to become a wise monk. He then dreamt that a statue of the God came to life and made him swallow one of his swords. The day after, the monk had become an excellent cleric.