Legendary Creatures: A Look at Mythology in Ukiyo-e Art

Japanese folklore is infamous for its demons – oni – and other evil or terrifying creatures. Ukiyo-e art is no different. Much of the demonic art in this style are actually depictions of performances in Kabuki theater, called Kaidan mono, or ghost plays. The demons that are depicted are mostly adjacent to humans in appearance, though sometimes painted red or wearing horrifying and comical hannya masks.

These Ukiyo-e prints also often depicted the same character from Japanese legend: Shōki the Demon Queller. He is often characterized by his appearance as a Chinese official dressed in a robe, boots, and a cap, wielding a sword with which he slays demons. This is because Shōki originally comes from a Chinese legend that had been adopted by the Japanese, about a man who failed his exams to become a scholar-official and takes his own life.

Shōki the Demon Queller is said to be a spirit guardian that defends the country from supernatural forces. Aside from Ukiyo-e prints, he can often be found depicted on banners and in homes, with the idea that he could ward off disease. The print “May: Shoki the Demon Queller Riding on a Tiger, Subjugating Goblins” shows the infamous Shoki riding upon a tiger while he destroys the goblins that are in front of him with his sword and his tiger.