If you have been to Japan and traveled the
"old Tokaido" highway from Kyoto to Tokyo, you will end up passing
through Otsu, a small village just a few miles west of Kyoto. A charming
village, I am sure known for a number of things, Otsu is best known for its
synonymous omiyage (souvenirs) known as Otsu-e or Otsu pictures. This traditional
mingei folkcraft has its origins in the late 17th century as omiyage sold along
the old Tokaido (east sea road) highway route. The original designs were of
Buddhist images for use in the home and over the years many of the designs
became "comics or caricatures" for folk tales; Oni (no) Nembustsu,
Yakko-machi, Benkei, Raiko, Fuji-Musume, gourd & catfish, cat & mouse,
etc.. The designs of the Otsu-e became very popular gifts to bring when
traveling east or west and are now best known for their humor and satire of
beliefs of popular culture. Like Aesop's Fables, Otsu-e are based on lessons
that are rooted in the origins of Buddhism as it made its way in to Japan
around the Nara-jidai.
Having traveled this route a number of times on
my way from Kyoto to Shigaraki, I had opportunity and motive to stop in Otsu
and acquire some examples of Otsu-e from the current head of the best known
Otsu-e families; Takahashi (Bumpei)
Shozan IV (b.1936). In many respects, the work of Shozan IV is now synonymous
with Otsu-e and his portrayals of the numerous subjects, stories and fables are
the modern classics and continuation of this satirical and allegorical folk
art. Illustrated on the left is a small shikishi size painting of the
Oni(no)Nembutsu design by Takahashi Shozan IV and one the right is a nice
little teacup that I recently acquired with the same design on Kiyomizu wear in
bright enamels signed by Shozan IV. The moral to the story, simply put is that
if a "wicked" demon can repent, then anyone is capable of repentance
and redemption a common core principle of Buddhism.
.JPG)