Photo, Print, Drawing Momotaro and Kaidomaru Wrestling.
About this Item
Title
- Momotaro and Kaidomaru Wrestling.
Summary
- This nishiki-e (multicolored woodblock print) is by Utagawa Kunisada I, also called Toyokuni III and other names, who lived circa 1786--1864 and was a leading artist of ukiyo-e (pictures of the floating world). He was famous for his prints of Kabuki actors, beautiful women, and sumo (Japanese traditional wrestling). A favorite pictorial joke in the Edo period (1600--1867) was the depiction of sumo performed by unusual participants. In this print Kunisada shows the meeting of the two strong boys of Japanese folktales, Momotarō and Kintarō. Momotarō, born from a giant peach, defeated ogres with the help of his trusty dog, monkey, and pheasant. Kintarō (here called Kaidōmaru), grew up on a mountain with animals for his friends. In this match, Momotarō's pheasant appears as the gyōji (referee), while Kintarō's bear acts the yobidashi (announcer). Such nishiki-e served the function of increasing the popularity of sumo. The National Diet Library, which holds this work, has more than 100 of Kunisada's sumo prints. From the name and the seal, this work can be dated 1843--44.
Names
- Utagawa, Toyokuni, 1786-1865 Artist.
Created / Published
- Edo : Yamaguchiya Tobei, [1843 to 1844]
Headings
- - Japan
- - 1843 to 1844
- - Bears
- - Children
- - Pheasants
- - Sumo wrestlers
- - Ukiyo-e
- - Woodcuts
Notes
- - Title devised, in English, by Library staff.
- - Original resource extent: Set of three : woodblock prints, color ; 37 x 25.5 centimeters.
- - Original resource at: National Diet Library.
- - Content in Japanese.
- - Description based on data extracted from World Digital Library, which may be extracted from partner institutions.
Medium
- 1 online resource.
Digital Id
Library of Congress Control Number
- 2021668778
Online Format
- compressed data
- image