Japanese Legend Information Sought

[hddennis]

Several years ago I acquired this netsuke that depicts an Oni with a maiden carrying a wisteria branch and have wondered what the artist was trying to portray and what was the story of this legend?  I 've just seen a metal plate online with the same theme so it must have a story I can learn. Any help or thoughts or links greatly appreciated.

 

Howard Dennis

[16k]

I couldn’t find much about it. It seems to be from a famous kabuki play.

 

https://ukiyo-e.org/image/mfa/sc205926

[PietroParis]

I suggest you download this free book. On page 77, you'll find this:

 

 

I don't know why she pals around with an Oni, though.

[PietroParis]

P.S. I guess this is the kabuki play JP refers to, but still no Oni...

 

http://www.zen-garden.org/html/page_window_FujiMusume.htm

 

Maybe the solution is that both “Wisteria Maiden” and “Repentant Oni” were well-known subjects of Otsu-e (see link) and the joke consists precisely in showing them together?

[sohei]

Here is some more info:

"The last two images repurpose the Ōtsue oni-priest for humorous purposes. In the first image, he’s carrying a maiden across a river on his back; the maiden is holding a sprig of wisteria. In fact, the wisteria maiden was another popular Ōtsue theme, so this is a humorous pairing of two Ōtsue in “real life.” The image of a man carrying a woman across a river on his back was a common one in depictions of the Tōkaidō, because most of its river crossings had no bridges; wealthy travelers could be carried across on a platform, while less wealthy ones rode on a porter’s shoulders or simply waded (like the down-on-his-luck Daikoku in the background). The oni-priest is rendered in humorously naturalistic detail, with his gong and mallet tucked into his robes and a decidedly nonplussed expression on his face."

 

Here is the link to the site:

 

https://glam.uoregon.edu/yokaisenjafuda/page/oni#?c=&m=&s=&cv=&xywh=0%2C-7007%2C32017%2C17870

 

[hddennis]

Gentlemen, Thanks so much for you very informative responses. I'll have a fun time researching each one adding to my knowledge and appreciation of my newest addition.

 

Howard Dennis