Kishū hidakagawa no tsuki kiyohime (Kiyohime and the Moon over Hidaka River in Kii Province)

Toyohara Chikanobu, artist

1838–1912

Kishū hidakagawa no tsuki kiyohime (Kiyohime and the Moon over Hidaka River in Kii Province), 1885, Meiji period (1868–1912)

Portfolio/Series title: Setsugekka (Snow, Moon and Flowers)

Where object was made: Japan

Material/technique: color woodcut

Dimensions:
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 145 x 97.5 mm
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 14 1/2 x 9 3/4 in
Mat Dimensions (Height x Width): 19 x 14 in

Credit line: Gift of H. Lee Turner

Accession number: 1968.0001.179

Not on display

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Label texts

Archive Label 2003:
The legendary Kiyohime was driven mad by unrequited love for a celibate monk. Her passion was so great it turned her into a demonic serpent (suggested by the triangular, scaley patterns on her robes) which ultimately crushed and burned both itself and the unfortunate monk. This popular tale was a perennial favorite on the kabuki stage as the play Musume Dōjōji, a glimpse of which can be seen in the upper left corner of the print. The main figure is taken from an earlier design of the same subject by Yoshitoshi, published in 1865.