Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries

What is the tattooed man doing with the measle sick and who the other guy on the ground

If you do a Google search on the print, the AI says:

>> This ukiyo-e woodblock print is titled "Sanki otoko hashika taiji" (Three braveries defeating Gods of Measles), created by Utagawa Yoshiiku around 1862.

>> It depicts a dramatic scene featuring samurai warriors fighting against measles demons, reflecting historical Japanese cultural anxieties about epidemics.

>> The work is historically classified as a diptych (a two-sheet print), with this particular panel showing the central battle action.

Below is a link to the diptych:

https://www.harashobo.com/english/ukiyoe_detail.php?print_id=34773

Cheers,
Stan

URL Title :Measles Warriors

thanks!

Title cartouche,
神馬桶の福　Jinmaoke no fuku
Luck of Divine Horse Bucket (lavatory)

According to Japanese language sources these are a type of satirical and talismanic ukiyo-e (nishiki-e) prints known as “measles prints” (hashika-e), which were mass-produced in Edo during the massive measles epidemic of 1862 (Bunkyu 2) as both amulets and sources of information.

The pose of tattoed man emphasizes a sense of “strength” reminiscent of the spirited artisans and chivalrous outlaws of Edo. It conveys a visual sense of reliability, depicting the act of “forcibly subduing” the insidious misfortune of illness through the energy of the people of Edo.

The figure lying on the ground or being pinned down represents the “god of measles (the god of epidemics)”

Explanation of the surrounding cursive script,
Right,
づゝうた　Zuzūta - Running nose,
くだりのでた助　Kudarinodeta suke - Diarrhea
Left,
のどのかわ吉　Nodo no kawaki(chi) - Parched throat
うはことばｱ Uwakotoba - Chaff

Regards,
I.Nagy

Thanks a lot

Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries |