Susanoo no mikoto preparing to slay an eight-headed dragon, Keisai Eisen

Exhibition Label:
"The Art of Stories Told," Jun-2004, Veronica de Jong
Susanoo (Susanoo no mikoto) is shown here with a large sword in hand, his foot resting before three basins that are probably filled with sake. Susanoo is a mythical figure who was believed to be the brother of the sun goddess Amaterasu. He was also an unruly deity who disappointed his powerful sister. However, he redeemed himself by slaying the eight-headed dragon (Yamata no orochi) by offering it eight barrels of sake that made it drunk and easy to kill. In the tail of the dragon Susanoo found a large sword, which he presented to his sister who then passed it on to her descendents who became the imperial family of Japan. This sword became one of the Three Imperial Regalia supposedly preserved in an important and ancient temple, Ise. Susanoo is depicted here staring bravely into the face of one of the dragon’s heads that emerges from thick clouds. And the water below, which is associated with dragons, is represented in silver and blue waves that crest below and beside Susanoo.

Archive Label date unknown:
The serpent in Japanese folklore has been a symbolic representation of uncontrollable natural phenomena, calamity, or a kind of menace. The tale of the eight-forked serpent who tortures local deities narrates the subjugation of the monster (probably representing a frequently flooding river or rebellious tribal groups)) by a Heavenly Deity (a man skilled as an engineer or a warrior), and the subsequent marriage between heavenly and earthly deities (peace and harmony are restored). Susa-no-o, brother of the Sun Goddess, slays a serpent which has been raping a couple's daughters, and marries the remaining daughter. In Keisei's depiction of the classic tale, only one head and claw of the fearsome serpent appear out of a void. Sus-no-o, the obvious victor, stands confidently ready, his foot resting on a jar of wine with which he will drug the serpent.