Japanese Ghosts and Demons: Art of the Supernatural | Spencer Museum of Art

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Japanese Ghosts and Demons: Art of the Supernatural

Stephen Addiss, curator

Archer M. Huntington Gallery, University of Texas, Austin, Texas

Japanese art, particularly during the Edo period, portrays a host of fascinating supernatural beings. The museum's collection of 19th century wood-block prints, supplemented by loans, was drawn upon for this popular exhibition which opened at the Asia Society Galleries in New York City. The catalogue and programs were supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Works of art

Yashima Gakutei (circa 1786–1868, active 1815–1852), Ushiwaka and Sōjōbō

Kita Busei (1776–1856); Tatekawa Emba II (active early 1800s), badger and rabbit

Keisai Eisen (1790–1848), Susanoo no mikoto preparing to slay an eight-headed dragon

Shiomi Masanari (1647–1722), inro, netsuke, ojime (fox wedding scene)

netsuke (Hannya mask)

Deme Uman (active 1772–1780), netsuke (fox mask)

netsuke (mask of Hannya with glass eyes)

Suzuki Kosai, netsuke (exorcizing oni with beans)

netsuke (Gama Sennin with his toad)

netsuke (Nō mask)

Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858), #37 Akasaka nawate michi nite yajirō kitahachi o kitsune to omoite chōchaku suru (Akasaka, Yajiro Beats Kitahachi Thinking He is a Fox)

Okumura Masanobu (1686–1764), Shoki, the Demon-Queller

Totoya Hokkei (1780–1850), Qingao riding a carp

Shunkōsai Hokushū (active circa 1802–1832), Onoe Kikugoro III as Ghost of Oiwa

Okumura Masanobu (1686–1764), Fūryū kume sennin (A Fashionable Depiction of Kume the Transcendent)

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861); Hayashiiya Shogoro, Spirit of Sakura Sogoro haunting Hotta Kozuke

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861), 政岡 Masaoka, #16 (The Spectre of Nikki Danjō)

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861), 道化拳合 Dōke ken awase (Comic handgames) (caricatures of actors as three animals playing ken)

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861), Shodōgu yoriai uwasa hanashi 諸道具寄合噂はなし (A Gossip Meeting Between Various Tools)

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861), #49 Lantern Ghost of Oiwa (Hebiyama; Snake Mountain)

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861); Iba-ya Sensaburo, Nissaka (The Nightly Weeping Rock)

Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1864), Ghost of Iga Shikibunojō Mitsumune and Iganokotarō Asayuki

Shunbaisai Hokuei (active circa 1824–1837), Kohada Kohaiji Mitate Nyōbō Asaka Iwai Shijaku II (Ghost of Kobata Kohaiji)

Shunbaisai Hokuei (active circa 1824–1837), Iemon Nyōbō Oiwa (Lantern Ghost of Oiwa)

月岡芳年 Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–1892), greedy old woman opens box of demons (The Greedy Hag)

月岡芳年 Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–1892), Fuwa Bansaku and the Monster

月岡芳年 Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–1892), Spirit of General Tamichi as a Great Snake

Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1865), Minikuchi eki goto kaigo no zu (A Gathering of Magicians at Minakuchi on the Tōkaidō)

Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1864), actors Onow Kikugoro III and Ichikawa Monnosuke III in thunderstorm on banks of Sumida River

Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1864), actors in roles as the ghosts of Kamata Matahachi and Kikuno

Toyohara Kunichika (1835–1900), Scene from Banchō Sarayashiki

Utagawa Yoshiiku (1833–1904), Gods disguised as prospective customers of a brothel (demons disguised as brothel customers)

Hara Zaichū (1750–1837), Taoist Priest (Gama and Tekkai)

Hara Zaichū (1750–1837), Taoist Priest (Gama and Tekkai)

Utagawa Kunisada (1786–1864), Ariwara No Narihira as the Ghost of Seigen

Utagawa Yoshitaki (1841–1899), Actor Nakamura Shojura as Mitsukuni

Utagawa Yoshiiku (1833–1904), Night Parade of 100 Demons (frog triptych)

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797–1861), Mitsukuni Defying the Skeleton Spectre Invoked by Princess Takiyasha

Utagawa Yoshitsuya (1822–1866), Tsuchigumo (Earth Spider)

月岡芳年 Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–1892), Priest Raigō of Mii Temple Transformed into a Rat

Utagawa Yoshiiku (1833–1904), Humourous Record of Japanese History (One Hundred Devils Out at Night)

Utagawa Yoshiiku (1833–1904), Humourous Record of Japanese History [One Hundred Devils Out at Night]

Utagawa Yoshiiku (1833–1904), Humourous Record of Japanese History [One Hundred Devils Out at Night]