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Aka-e - Japanese Colour Magic
***Aka-e*** are Japanese woodblock prints where red is the dominating colour. Red prints were believed to protect against smallpox and were used as talismans. The idea is based on the old tale that says, if a smallpox patient is dressed in red the disease will be mild. The demon (or god) they believed to cause the disease, ***Hōsō-Kami****,* would like the red and be inclined to treat its wearer kindly. Red was thus applied in other ways as well. As light, as rouge, as sacred paper strips, a lot of things. Red prints were just one more way. According to Japanese folklore, red expels demons and illness. (Below, an Aka-e from the 1730s by ***Okumura Masanobu***)
The next print is by ***Kuniyoshi****;* it is deliberately made to create a smallpox talisman. Such prints can be called ***hōsō-e****,* which literally means *“smallpox picture”*.
Smallpox prints were considered even more powerful if they depicted certain beings, such as ***Tametomo****,* a heroic samurai, ***Daruma*** and an owl, or someone called ***Shôki,*** who was a demon queller, originally from China, where he was called Zhong Kui or Chung Kwei. The next picture shows ***Shôki appearing in a dream*** [*Muchû Shôki shutsugen no zu chûban*]*,* a print by Hasegawa Sadanobu*,* from about 1840. The picture is not entirely red, but the main motive is.
The smallpox prints were burned or thrown in a river when the sick person had recovered. For that reason, few of these prints have been preserved. (This article is based on material previously published in Meriondho Leo.) Copyright © 2020 Meleonymica/Mictorrani. All Rights Reserved. You find all my articles on Japanese Art & Culture here. https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/index-over-my-articles-at-read-cash-5f7c1e34#japanology Interested in Japanese culture? Join my community Japanese Art & Cultural History (7c1f). https://read.cash/c/japanese-art-cultural-history-7c1f You find all my writings on Read.Cash, sorted by topic, here. https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/index-over-my-articles-at-read-cash-5f7c1e34
14 comments
Wow nice to know some new type of culture and it's paintings which are quite watch worthy.
They're cultural practicing people and they're till date.
Yes, and they are different from all other people. Their culture has evolved in its own way, despite influences from outside.
It is a real Japanese color magic truly. It is very interesting and educative. It opens my sight to external world really. Keep doing the good job.
Open your eyes to an external world! I'm glad to hear that. That's one reason for looking at art from an alien culture. To expand one's views.
Yes, we keep learning on daily basis! It opens my sight to what is happening there. "I'm not an island of knowledge, I learn on daily basis"
このがアニメじゃない。次はゆれいと魔人から書きってるください
いいえ、これはアニメではありません。浮世絵です。 ゆれいと魔人! たぶん。
サイトのメンバがカッパを大好きだろう
はい、カッパになります。 あなたがとてもきれいに尋ねたので。
嬉しい
https://read.cash/@Mictorrani/the-kappa-a-dangerous-fellow-9429221e
Even here in the Philippines, red color is believed to shoo away supernatural entities that's believed to harm a person. Old folks here really have a lot of superstitious beliefs.
I didn't know that particular belief existed in the Philippines, but the whole East Asia is full of superstition. More than anywhere else, I think.