Yoshitoshi: Villainous Rats of Mii Temple (Sold)

Artist: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi
Title: Villainous Rats of Mii Temple
Series: “New Forms of Thirty-six Ghosts”
Date: 1891

Priest Raigo of Mii Temple Transformed by Wicked Thoughts into a Rat (Mii-dera Raigo-ajari akunen nezumi to henzuru zu). The unyielding Priest Rago has been transformed after death by his own anger into a malevolent rat who comes with his hordes of rat-friends to destroy the emperor’s temple. They feast on texts and sacred books. The main rat wears a robe with orange tan, or lead pigment.

Condition: Very good impression, color and condition. Light discoloration near margin edges.
Dimensions: ôban (37.1 x 25.4 cm)
Publisher: Sasaki; Engraver: Chokuzan
Literature: Stevenson, plate XXV. See also “Something Wicked from Japan: Ghosts, Demons and Yokai in Ukiyo-e Masterpieces”, page 206.
Signature: Yoshitoshi

SKU: YOT464