In the sophisticated popular culture of the Edo period (1603-1868), much attention was devoted to Japan's rich pantheon of traditional monsters and apparitions, known as youkai. Sometimes frightening, sometimes humorous, these compelling Japanese folk creatures were the subject of numerous artistic and literary works.
You just have to see 'em.
3 comments:
Very imaginative and wonderfully fanciful images populate our art history from East to West.
Michael
A friend of mine in the UK, Richard Freeman, has a book published shortly which is a definitive study of Japanese monsters - in mythology, cryptozoology etc.
Oh, jeez, that black spider cow is going to give me nightmares, now.
Oh, boy! 8^}
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