Myth or Legend: SeaWitch Demon Dragon?

[Curran]

I've seen a goto piece piece recently that depicted a demonic faced sea-witch swimming through the waves in pursuit of a hero character that is fleeing on the beach carrying his staff or pole weapon.

 

I didn't find it in Joly in my first pass. Does anyone know to what myth, legend, or theater this SeaWitch Demon-Dragon is from?

[kaigunair]

may be an amabie type mermaid? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amabie

 

this might be helpful, but I wish the gallery pics were larger...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konjaku_Ga ... ond_Volume

[kaigunair]

check out http://pinktentacle.com/2010/04/kaikida ... er-scroll/, monster number 8...

[Curran]

Thanks Junichi. Not a bad match, but I suspect it is something a bit better known since it is a Goto kozuka.

Attached should be an image of the kozuka.

[Soshin]

Hi Curran,

 

Sorry don't know anything the about story related to the to the very nice kozuka. I really love the nice contrast between the gold and shakudo on the reverse side. I have only seen this on the best examples of kinko work. Did the museum have any information about the design?

 

P.S. I am assuming this is part of a museum collection.

[Curran]

Not a museum piece.

It was up for auction. It was signed and the signature looked valid to me for 10th gen Goto Teijo (I think).

 

Workmanship was good enough and signature good enough. He has a few interesting quirks to how he signs, so I tried to commit those to memory.

I was more curious about the theme.

[Tanto54]

Curran-san! I'm surprised that you don't recognize this one because I'd expect you to be very familiar with the theme of being chased by a wrathful woman.... :D Unfortunately, I'm quite familiar with the subject and believe it to be Kiyohime and Anchin from the play/legend Dojo-Ji.

 

There are many different versions, and here's one from the Internet: "One day, a handsome visiting priest named Anchin fell in love with a beautiful woman named Kiyohime, but after a time he overcame his passions and refrained from further meetings. Kiyohime became furious at the sudden change of heart and pursued him in rage. The priest and Kiyohime met at the edge of the Hidaka river, where the priest asked a boatman to help him to cross the river, but told him not to let her cross with his boat. When Kiyohime saw that Anchin was escaping her, she jumped into the river and started to swim after him. While swimming in the torrent of the Hidaka river, she transformed into a large serpent or dragon because of her rage. When Anchin saw her coming after him in her monstrous new form, he ran into the temple called Dōjō-ji. He asked the priests of Dōjōji for help and they hid him under the bell of temple. However, the serpent smelled him hiding inside the bell and started to coil around it. She banged the bell loudly several times with her tail, then gave a great belch of fire that melted the bell, killing the priest."

[Curran]

Oh! Thanks.

Geez.... knew I'd feel stupid on this one. You do consistently come through on the themes. I was hoping you'd see this post.

I know the story of the serpent and the priest/warrior hiding in the bell, but didn't connect it with this hybrid demon woman - sea serpent I was seeing. I felt it would be something different.

 

I do confess this one struck me as very well done and yet creepy at the same time. The temper of a Korean wife with significant martial arts training is one thing, but the kozuka reminded me more of a Class 5 Clinger. Even moving to a different continent couldn't shake her. Same face.... of a woman scorned. What sort of masochist guy would carry this around on his sword?