Japanese Print "Bald-Headed Tengu of Kurama Mountain (Kaburo Kurama Tengu)" by Okumura Masanobu
Artist:Okumura Masanobu
Title:Bald-Headed Tengu of Kurama Mountain (Kaburo Kurama Tengu)
Date:about 1710
Details:More information...
Source:Worcester Art Museum
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Description:
This print parodies the legend that Ushiwaka (young ox), as Yoshitsune was called during his youth, was trained in acrobatic skill and fencing by Sojobo, the king of the tengu (birdmen) who lived on Mount Kurama. A tayu (high class courtesan) who represents Sojobo, is shown seated in a parlor, watching her kamuro, representing Ushiwaka, who stands upon the outstretched arm of a house servant. The bald-headed (kaburo) servant masquerades as Sojobo by wearing a sake cup tied on his head and four kiseru (pipes) around his neck and holds a broom, respectively representing the cap, neckpiece of a yamabushi (itinerant mountain monk) and a feathered fan (or large axe?)