Illustrated scroll on paper of the legend of Kengaku 賢学 & Hanahime 花姫 (see below)

Ten finely painted scenes. Scroll (240 x 8260 mm.), with explanatory text in a fine calligraphic hand, inner front endpaper richly flecked with gold, outer side covered in golden silk brocade, wooden core roller. [Japan]: late Edo.


A fine picture scroll depicting the famous story of Kengaku and Hanahime, a story that can be traced back to the 11th century and has many variations. It has maintained great acclaim, and is widely encountered to this day in theater and popular culture.


“Dōjōji emaki is a picture scroll depicting the story Hidakagawa-soshi (also known as Kengaku-soshi), which is a variant of the legend of Anchin (truncated) and Kiyohime that is also depicted in kabuki and ningyo-joruri (bunraku). The story tells of a Buddhist monk at the Mitsui temple, named Kengaku, who falls in love at first sight with a princess from a wealthy family in the Hashimoto region of Enshu (present day Shizuoka Prefecture). After corresponding for a time, the two eventually betrothed. Kengaku, however, eventually realizes that the princess is the girl he thought he had killed in the past, and this realization causes him to suddenly abandon her. The princess chases Kengaku, but her grief transforms her into a giant snake. Finally, after discovering Kengaku hidden in a temple bell, she drags him out and together they sink to the bottom of the Hidaka River. This emaki was quite popular during the Edo period, and many copies appear to have been produced.”–National Diet Library webpage.


In a series of ten finely rendered scenes, often with accompanying calligraphic text, we see the love affair of Kengaku and Hanahime disintegrate, her transformation into an angry serpent-dragon, her murder of her former lover, and the couple’s later attainment of Buddhahood.


In fine condition. At end, a little wormed at foot, carefully repaired. (Inventory #: 10937)