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くらの開扉 落涙山非常明王（なみださんひしやうめうどう） 地震院 火事
DEACESSIONED June 20, 2019
Special Exhibition at the Earthquake Temple: Image of the Bright King of Tears and Emergencies (Kura no kaihi, Namidasan Hijô Myôô, Jishin-in, kaji)
くらの開扉 落涙山非常明王（なみださんひしやうめうどう） 地震院 火事
Japanese
Edo period
about 1855 (Ansei 2)
Medium/Technique
Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
Left half of horizontal double ôban sheet; 35.2 x 24.4 cm (13 7/8 x 9 5/8 in.)
Credit Line
William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.38695
CollectionsAsia, Prints and Drawings
ClassificationsPrints
Catalogue Raisonné
Ôkubo, Namazu-e (Nat'l. Mus. of J. History, 2021), #169; Tomizawa, Nishiki-e no chikara (2005), chart 4, #83, photo p. 92
DescriptionMFA impressions: 11.29507.2 (complete), *11.38695 (left half only; deaccessioned in 2019)
A parody of fliers announcing special exhibitions of Buddhist images. The image of fake deity "Namidasan Hijô Myôô" is modelled on the fierce guardian deity Fudô Myôô and is a composite of the traditional Four Scary Things: earthquakes, fires, thunderstorms, and strict fathers. His two "attendants" are a damaged pagoda and a burned body.
A parody of fliers announcing special exhibitions of Buddhist images. The image of fake deity "Namidasan Hijô Myôô" is modelled on the fierce guardian deity Fudô Myôô and is a composite of the traditional Four Scary Things: earthquakes, fires, thunderstorms, and strict fathers. His two "attendants" are a damaged pagoda and a burned body.
Signed
Unsigned
無款
無款
ProvenanceBy 1911, purchased by William Sturgis Bigelow (b. 1850–d. 1926), Boston [see note 1]; 1911, gift of Bigelow to the MFA. (Accession Date: January 19, 2005)
NOTES:
[1] Much of Bigelow's collection of Asian art was formed during his residence in Japan between 1882 and 1889, although he also made acquisitions in Europe and the United States. Bigelow deposited many of these objects at the MFA in 1890 before donating them to the Museum's collection at later dates.
NOTES:
[1] Much of Bigelow's collection of Asian art was formed during his residence in Japan between 1882 and 1889, although he also made acquisitions in Europe and the United States. Bigelow deposited many of these objects at the MFA in 1890 before donating them to the Museum's collection at later dates.