Title : Daruma Carrying A Young Girl

Artist : Okumura Masanobu

Date : mid-late 1740s

Details : More information...

Source : Honolulu Museum of Art
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Description : Bodhidharma (Daruma) was the sixth-century founder and first patriarch of Chan (Zen) Buddhism in China. However, the poem in this print alludes to the story of Ömori Hikoshichi (date unknown), a retainer of Ashikaga Takauji (1305-1358) who offered to carry a beautiful young girl across a stream. As they were crossing, she transformed into a demon. By placing a girl on Daruma's back, Masunobu appears to humorously link the aforementioned story to the famous legend of Bodhidharma crossing the Yangzi River in China, riding on the back of a reed. The usual character hai (""I humbly present"") after Masanobu's signature on the lower right side, the heavy quality paper, and the extremely literary nature of the subject suggest that Masanobu may have designed this print for a poetry circle meeting. It may therefore be one of the first recorded surimono (prints for special occasions). The fact that a play on this theme was performed in 1747 may date the print to that year, although the colors appear to be somewhat earlier. (from Original Intent exhibition 11/21/06-)

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