Kogaku

GK-1001, Shuten-doji (Drunkard Devil)

Shuten-doji is one of three famous stories related with Minamoto-no Yorimitsu (944-1021) commonly called Minamoto-no Raiko, a general of Gen-ke (Minamoto clan).
Japanese have many Oni (demon) stories, and one of the most famous stories is Shuten-doji, the drunkard red faced kid, who abducted women, robbed treasures and ate humans at Mt. Oe of Tamba. When he abducted Ikeda Chunagon’s daughter, Ikeda asked Mikado for help. Minamoto-no Raiko was ordered to kill the Oni, and the Oni was beheaded by Raiko and his followers, the Shitenno (Four Devas), Watanabe-no Tsuna, Sakata-no Kintoki, Urabe-no Suetake, and Usui-no Sadamitsu.

In day time Shuten-doji disguised himself as a drunkard kids, but he would appear with his true aspect,15 feet tall, with red head and red body, left leg in black right leg in white, left arm in blue and right arm in yellow with spots in five colors all over, and he had 15 eyes and five horns. When the Oni was beheaded, the head fell and bit Raiko’s helmet. Fortunately, Raiko’s head was protected by three helmets as he knew beforehand and borrowed the helmets from Sakata-no Kintoki as well as Watanabe-no Tsuna.

The Oni’s head were raised and Urushi was painted on it. The dimension was effectively done with different sizes, #6 and #8 of gold foils, and then #10 gold powders were heavily sprinkled followed by red Urushi painted. Two different shells were used on the eyes, and the hairs were Tsukegaki (drawing with more gold and make lines look raised) with #6 gold powder and Keuchi(Additional gold lines were drawn on the surface) with #4 gold powder.

The details on Raiko are amazing. To begin with many times of raised silver mixed powders and gold powders were used before hundreds of Kirigane (rectangular gold foils setting), colored Urushi painted, and Raden were used on the sword, the eyes. And #8 gold powders were used for Tsukegaki all over. The ground use gradation technique and lots of Kirigane. The little Oni on the pole was done by Tsukegaki.

GK-1003, Sakura- Bijin (Sakura and the Beauties)

GK-1005, Kawanakujima-no Kassen (The Fight at Kawanakujima)

GK-1011, Horaisan

GK-1012 Dawn (Spring of Four Seasons)

GK-1013 Fireworks (Summer of Four Seasons)

GK-1014 Deer (Autumn of Four Seasons)

GK-1015 Cold Mountain and Sacred Cranes (Winter of Four Seasons)