Heike Hauntings: Taira Death Spirits in 19th Century Japanese Popular Prints

With this thesis, I want to focus on Kuniyoshi’s supernatural prints portraying one Japanese warrior house in particular: the Taira 平 clan. The Taira clan, also known as the Heike 平家, was one of the most prominent noble families of the Heian period (794 - 1185), even controlling the Emperor until they were finally defeated. Their tragic demise during the decisive naval Battle of Dan-no-Ura 壇ノ浦の戦い (1185) of the Genpei War 源平合戦 (1180 - 1185) at the hands of the Minamoto 源 clan, has gone down as one of the most infamous events in Japanese history. The rise and fall of the Taira has been popularized by the canonical work Heike Monogatari 平家物語, which describes the events leading up to and during the Genpei War. Although the author and the date of creation of the Heike Monogatari are unknown and much of its contents have been proven to be fictious, the Heike Monogatari has remained as one of the most important Japanese pieces of literature throughout the ages. Thus, it is no wonder that...Show moreWith this thesis, I want to focus on Kuniyoshi’s supernatural prints portraying one Japanese warrior house in particular: the Taira 平 clan. The Taira clan, also known as the Heike 平家, was one of the most prominent noble families of the Heian period (794 - 1185), even controlling the Emperor until they were finally defeated. Their tragic demise during the decisive naval Battle of Dan-no-Ura 壇ノ浦の戦い (1185) of the Genpei War 源平合戦 (1180 - 1185) at the hands of the Minamoto 源 clan, has gone down as one of the most infamous events in Japanese history. The rise and fall of the Taira has been popularized by the canonical work Heike Monogatari 平家物語, which describes the events leading up to and during the Genpei War. Although the author and the date of creation of the Heike Monogatari are unknown and much of its contents have been proven to be fictious, the Heike Monogatari has remained as one of the most important Japanese pieces of literature throughout the ages. Thus, it is no wonder that the tragic story of the Heike still captured the imagination of ukiyo-e artists during the late Edo period (1600 - 1868). By visually analyzing supernatural prints featuring the Taira clan of Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798 - 1861), I hope to shed light on some elements underexplored by previous researchers. Rather than simple political satire, I argue that the charm of these prints for Edo townspeople was actually far wider and more varied. Dissecting the prints’ artistic and cultural elements one by one, I will attempt to lay bare the period eye and to surmise how a person living in the Edo period could have enjoyed them. I hope my research might deepen our shared understanding of Edo popular culture and its social and cultural background.Show less

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Heike Hauntings: Taira Death Spirits in 19th Century Japanese Popular Prints