Kuniyoshi: Tamakazura; Maiden with Pearl (Sold)

A beauty holds a knife up to a pursuing giant octopus, echoing the story of the pearl diver and the dragon king.  Komae in the shape of a handscroll on the top shows a chapter from “Genji Monogatari,” along with a waka poem that relates to the chapter. Below is the mitate (comparison picture), and the text of the historical background. This dramatic image derives from the 7th century tale Taishokkan (The Great Woven Cap) which recounts events from the life of the courtier Fujiwara Kamatari. Here the beautiful pearl diver Tamatori battles one of the minions of the Dragon King after recovering a precious jewel that was stolen from Kamatari. She clutches the jewel in one hand and brandishes a dagger in the other. The connection to Chapter 22 from the Tale of Genji is the jewel (tama) in the chapter title, of Tamakazura, the name of Genji’s adopted daughter.