onna-musha:“Takiyasha-hime” (1884), Yôshû Chikanobu (1838-1912)The witch and

onna-musha:

“Takiyasha-hime” (1884), Yôshû Chikanobu (1838-1912)

The witch and warrior Takiyasha-hime (demon princess of the waterfall) is depicted carrying a sword and a bell. The inset shows her familiar, the toad. Daughter of Taira no Masakado, a rebel who tried to overthrow the emperor, legends pretend that she lived in a ruined palace, plotting revenge for her father, with both curses and weapons. However, a warrior was sent to defeat her. Takiyasha-hime then made an impressive display of her magic, summoning a gashadokuro (giant skeleton). However, the witch was finally defeated. A popular story of Japanese folklore, Takiyasha-hime is often represented on woodblock prints and in kabuki plays.