A hundred demons picture scroll - Hyakkiyakouemaki

A picture scroll from the late Muromachi period (16th century). It depicts various monsters on their nocturnal journey. In addition to blue and red demons, it successively depicts monsters of utensils and furnishings such as a koto, biwa, sho, sandals, fans, pots, kettles, and trivets. There are no texts, and the contents are unclear, but the similar "Tsukumogami Emaki" (a copy of which has been surviving) explains that if utensils or furnishings are treated poorly, those monsters will later parade through the streets of Kyoto, and it is assumed that this is a depiction of something similar. The powerful imagination and humorous, caricatured scenes make this a unique piece of art, even among picture scrolls. There are many types of relics, all of which were created by artists of the Tosa school, but the one-volume scroll at Shinjuan in Daitokuji Temple in Kyoto is well-structured and is considered the oldest. Its bold, free-flowing lines, with a remarkable degree of thickness and thinness, are used in deep colors, showing an unrestrained style. It is an Important Cultural Property.

[Yasushi Murashige]

"Shigemi Komatsu (ed.), "Japanese Picture Scroll Collection 25: The Night Parade of One Hundred Demons and Others" (1979, Chuokoron-Shinsha)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

室町後期（16世紀）の絵巻。さまざまな妖怪(ようかい)が夜行するさまを描く。青鬼、赤鬼のほか琴、琵琶(びわ)、笙(しょう)、沓(くつ)、扇、鍋(なべ)、釜(かま)、五徳などの器物、調度の化け物を集めて連続的に描く。詞書(ことばがき)はもたず、内容をつまびらかにしないが、これに類似した『付喪神(つくもがみ)絵巻』（模本が伝存）が、器物や調度を粗末に扱うと、後日それらの妖怪が京の町中を練り歩く、という意味の内容を説いており、これに類することが描かれていると推測される。たくましい空想力と、戯画的な諧謔(かいぎゃく)味を帯びた画面は、絵巻作品中でも異色である。遺品の種類も多く、いずれも土佐派系の画家の手になるが、京都・大徳寺真珠庵(あん)の一巻は構成が整い、最古のものとされる。肥痩(ひそう)の著しいのびやかな描線に濃彩を施し、奔放な作風を示す。重要文化財。

［村重　寧］

『小松茂美編『日本絵巻大成25　百鬼夜行絵巻他』（1979・中央公論社）』

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