A hanging scroll in ink and color on silk by Kobayashi Eitaku (1843 to 1890), painted in the mid 1880s during the Meiji era, presenting the Japanese creation myth in the manner of a Western history painting. It shows the paired creator deities Izanagi and Izanami standing on the floating bridge of heaven, stirring the primordial ocean with the jeweled spear Ame-no-Nuboko; the droplets that fall from its tip as they withdraw it are said to have solidified into the first island of Japan. The painting was acquired by the physician and collector William Sturgis Bigelow during his residence in Japan from 1882 to 1889 and given by him to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, in 1911.
Facts
Origins
CreationSourced to the subject's own account Attributed To CountrySourced to the subject's own account Physical Form
MediumHanging scroll, ink and color on silk 1 Dimensions126 x 54.6 cm (image); 227 x 79 cm (overall mounting) 1 Subject Matter
Depicted SubjectSourced to the subject's own accountIzanagi and Izanami stirring the primordial ocean with the spear Ame-no-Nuboko to create the first island of Japan. 2 Custody
Current LocationMuseum of Fine Arts, Boston 1 Current CustodianMuseum of Fine Arts, Boston 1 Cross-Tradition Connections
Associated With
Boston, Cities This source names Boston directly: "by him to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, in 1911."
This source names Izanagi directly: "It shows the paired creator deities Izanagi and Izanami standing on the floating bridge of heaven, stirring the primordial ocean with the jeweled spear Ame-no-Nuboko; the droplets that fall from its..."
This source names Izanami directly: "It shows the paired creator deities Izanagi and Izanami standing on the floating bridge of heaven, stirring the primordial ocean with the jeweled spear Ame-no-Nuboko; the droplets that fall from its..."
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