Large Japanese Edo Period Kakemono Scroll Hangings, 19th Century, Set of 6

Description

Beautiful set of 6 large kakemonos from 19th century japanese mythology. Paper support with a canvas pasted on the paper … more Beautiful set of 6 large kakemonos from 19th century japanese mythology. Paper support with a canvas pasted on the paper wonderful set that is part of japan's history and beliefs when not hung, the kakemonos are rolled up. Circa 1800 - japan - edo period a kakemono translates as "object to hang". In japan this refers to a painting or calligraphy, most often done on silk or paper framed in a scroll that was intended to be hung on walls or in public lighting. This particular form, which allows them to be in a roll, dates back to the tang dynasty in china (this would be related to the copying and preservation of ancient buddhist texts). A kami is a deity or spirit worshipped in the shinto religion. A yokai is a spirit, ghost, demon, or strange apparition from the creatures of japanese folklore. Each of these kakemonos represents a unique story: - a kami, a japanese deity, is shown painting a rainbow. Indeed, he performs the action with his right hand while his left hand holds a kind of basket with three pots of paint. This kami has a rather closed attitude. He is standing in a dark and tormented sky. Below this figure, 8 villagers are dressed in traditional japanese clothes. Their faces are softened. They are not afraid of the elements made by the kami above their heads. - a character with an unreal look is holding a kind of jar with his two hands, which he spills on human figures above. This being is floating in the air, probably a character from mythology, perhaps susanoo. Underneath, villagers on umbrellas. They are trying to protect themselves as best they can from what is falling on them. One of them is carrying baskets with fish on her shoulders. A character in the background is thrown forward and falls. - on this kakemono, the god raijin, dressed in a white and blue outfit, strikes the sky with his two drum hammers to create lightning and its thunderous sound. Surrounded by tomoe and a long red scarf, raijin, enraged and with dishevelled hair, creates a dark and violent storm. The villagers seem frightened by this meteorological phenomenon. One of the villagers can be seen fainting in the arms of a man. This scene may seem chaotic, but japanese legend tells us that once a field is struck by lightning, the harvest is good. - on this kakemono, we see an unreal-looking figure holding a fan, as if he were sweeping away the bad weather, or simply producing gusts of wind. He is probably the kami of wind and air, shina tsu-hiko. The figures below him seem surprised by so much wind. An umbrella flies away on the left, the women hold their hair and scarf, the clothes are caught in the power of the wind, there is even a woman on the ground on the bottom left. - this kakemono represents a short moment. This raiju is a yokai (ghost spirit, demon from japanese folklore) that accompanies raijin, it controls the energy and electricity around and its body is composed of fire or light. Mostly blue in colour, he comes here to create energy and dissipate numerous lightning bolts, taking the villagers by surprise. Some of them even stumble. Traces of old restorations and humidity also - the kami kura-okami seems to be represented, born from the blood of kagu-tsuchi (the god of fire according to japanese mythology, son of izanami and izanagi). When kagu-tsuchi was born, he burned izanami to death and izanagi cut him into 8 pieces which gave birth to 8 deities, and from his blood which flowed on his father's sword 8 other deities were born, including kura-okami. Later, kura-okami split into two to give birth to taka-okami. Both live in the mountains and valleys producing rain and snow. On the kakemono, the kami is making snow fall from the clouds. The characters below are carrying umbrellas for protection. A character is chasing an animal, probably a sheep. behind four of them, the same japanese sign is inscribed at the top, and a different sign on the other two. less