Long Legs [left of a pair of Long Legs and Long Arms], 1870s-1880s
Kawanabe Kyōsaiexpand_more
Ink and color on paperexpand_more
Gift of the Clark Center for Japanese Art & Cultureexpand_more 2013.29.1098.2
Not on Viewexpand_more
These two hanging scrolls depict Ashinaga, literally Long Legs, and
Tenaga, literally Long Arms, a pair of popular yōkai or ghosts from
Japanese folklore that originated in China. Kawanabe Kyōsai, who was
known for his sense of humor, depicted them here in two memorable,
amusing scenes. On the left, Ashinaga with his very long legs is about to
take a bite from a persimmon hanging on a tree. Two small men are at
his feet. One is climbing up Ashinaga’s leg, while the other has his arms
raised. Maybe they are the keepers of the tree and are upset about his
selfish behavior. On the right is a comical interpretation of the old
Buddhist parable of a gibbon who thinks he can catch the moon by
grasping its reflection in the water. In Kyōsai’s rendition, Tenaga extends
his wildly long arms to hold up a gibbon who in turn stretches out his
left arm to grasp the tail of a shrimp that is trying to reach for the real
moon with its long antennae.
Details
- Title
- Long Legs [left of a pair of Long Legs and Long Arms]
- Artist Life
- 1831 - 1889
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2013.29.1098.2
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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