Bamboo is one of the most important plants in China both practically and in folklore. It symbolizes longevity and steadfastness. As an evergreen it's considered one of the three friends of winter along with pines and plums.
#DailyFolklore #folklore #bamboo #ukiyoe #JapaneseArt #japodon @folklore
🎨'Bamboo in Early Summer' - Kasamatsu Shiro, 1954.

'Black Cat' - Hasegawa Sadanobu, late 20th century, two versions.
#Caturday #ukiyoe #art #Japan #cats #JapaneseArt #japodon

'Awa Province: Naruto Whirlpools,' from the series 'Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces' by Utagawa Hiroshige in 1855.
#ukiyoe #art #JapaneseArt #japodon #Japan #Hiroshige #ocean

Here is the web version of ame onna with more rainy ukiyo-e art.
https://www.curiousordinary.com/2021/07/ame-onna.html?m=1
Art below is a depiction of ame onna by Toriyama Sekien in his yokai encyclopaedias.
#ukiyoe #JapaneseArt #japodon #folklore

'Noodle Restaurant on a Rainy Night' - Tokuriki Tomikichiro, 1951.
#ukiyoe #JapaneseArt #japodon

'Popular Hotspring Spa for Cats' - Utagawa Kunitoshi, Meiji period.
#ukiyoe #cats #Caturday #Japan #JapaneseArt #JapaneseCats #japodon

...are rarely dangerous and instead enjoy scaring humans by laughing and rolling their long tongues and eye/s. However in some cases dangerous onryo (vengeful ghosts) can disguise themselves as chochin obake, as in the case of the famous tale of Oiwa which I've written about here:
https://www.curiousordinary.com/2021/07/ghost-oiwa.html
#japodon #ukiyoe #JapaneseArt
🎨1. buboplague on Twitter
2. Toriyama Sekien
3. The Lantern Ghost' - Hokusai, 1832.
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In #JapaneseFolklore a todaiki is a #yokai created by a sorcerer using black magic to transform their enemy into a living candle, unable to speak or move. In one tale the man who became a todaiki was sitting still, completely covered in tattoos, with a candle upon his head, almost like a piece of furniture. More info and art here: https://www.curiousordinary.com/2021/07/todaiki.html?spref=tw&m=1
#MythologyMonday #folklore #ukiyoe #japodon #DailyFolklore #JapaneseArt @folklore @mythologymonday
🎨Taiso Yoshitoshi, 1893

This Japanese print shows a woman combing a cat on her lap while two others play at her feet. It is titled 'Gold Beetle' (which can be seen in the inset) from the series 'Selected Insects' (ca. 1843). The artist is Utagawa Kuniyoshi, who was an avid cat-lover.
#Caturday #ukiyoe #JapaneseArt #Japan #japodon #cats #catlovers

'Cat Fishing in Fishbowl' - Isoda Koryusai, ca. mid 1700s.
#Caturday #ukiyoe #JapaneseArt #Japan #cats #japodon

'Cat and Frog' - unknown ukiyo-e artist, ca. early 20th century.
#Caturday #ukiyoe #JapaneseArt #cats #art #Japan #japodon

'Peach Blossoms in Bloom at Nonaka Kannon Temple' from the series 'One Hundred Views of Osaka' - Utagawa Yoshitaki, 1860.
#JapaneseArt #ukiyoe #birds #japodon

In East Asia it was believed the mystical crane could live for 1000 years, which really just meant a very long time. It came to be seen as a symbol of longevity, good fortune and happiness.
#folklore #birds #ukiyoe #JapaneseArt #japodon @folklore
🎨'Cranes Flying over Waves' - Utagawa Hiroshige, 1858.

'Blue Birds at Night' - Watanabe Seitei, ca. 1930s.
#ukiyoe #birds #japodon #JapaneseArt #Japan

In #JapaneseFolklore kappa are small reptilian child-sized #yokai that live in lakes and rivers waiting to attack unsuspecting passers-by and drag them to a watery death. However, what they really want is your shirikodama, a mysterious jewel that resides in your anus. 😱 So what exactly is a shirikodama? There is no clear answer but theories include that it's a hardened form of the human soul, a magical wish-granting jewel, or the human liver. And how...
#MythologyMonday #folklore #japodon
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In Japanese mythology it was the goddess Uzume dancing, with the help of a rooster, who lured the sun goddess Amaterasu from the cave where she was hiding and thus returning light to the world. Uzume is known as the goddess of Spring. As a result of this myth, roosters are associated with Amaterasu and are held in high regard in Japan. They are sometimes seen wandering freely around Shinto Shrines.
#JapaneseFolklore #folklore #ukiyoe #japodon @folklorethursday
🎨Tozan Masazumi, 1853.

'Summer Moon at Miyajima' - Tsuchiya Koitsu, 1936.
#FullMoon #ukiyoe #JapaneseArt #Japan #japodon

I suspect, but can't prove (largely because I don't read/speak Japanese) that there are kibyōshi examples of historical narratives. To my thinking these should count as #HistoryComics . I'm thinking more about non-fiction historical narratives. Is there any chance anyone can point me in the right direction for looking into this? I'm particularly interested in pre-WWI examples. #japodon #comics

In #JapaneseFolklore mekurabe is a strange #yokai that is actually many skulls grouped together to take the form of a giant skull. It appears at night & challenges people to staring contests. Reports indicate that this strange phenomenon begins with skulls rolling around before forming the giant skull, which then begins staring at you. If it loses the contest it will crumble and disappear, but if it wins...well, actually no-one knows what happens if it wins.
#FolkloreThursday #folklore #japodon

'Moon at Mt.Miyaji in Owari Province' is a ukiyo-e print by Toyohara Chikanobu, 1884. A minister is playing a biwa, enjoying autumn colors on Mt Miyaji. A beautiful woman appears and sings to him. Then she shapeshifts into a monster, says she is Suijin (a water kami) then disappears.
#ukiyoe #JapaneseArt #moon #Japan #japodon