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Virtual Tour

The enigmatic figures of demons, foxes, and tengu are three unique facets of Japan’s rich cultural heritage, each embodying both menace and mystique. Demons, or oni, are fearsome creatures representing chaos and malevolence; their formidable appearance and chilling stories about them invoke awe and dread. In contrast, the fox, or kitsune, is revered for its magical shapeshifting powers and dual nature, often depicted as a benevolent guardian as well as a cunning trickster. Meanwhile, the tengu, with their birdlike features and skill with weapons, straddle the line between supernatural menace and revered protectors of the mountains.

This exhibition brings together a selection of artworks that explore the legendary history of these beings. The works on view present a rich tapestry of Japanese cultural imagination as expressed in the traditional arts of painting, printmaking, and decorative arts—along with contemporary examples from popular culture. Classic legends of demons, foxes, and tengu will captivate you with tales that range from terrifying to touching, from creepy to comical. But on a deeper level, this exhibition will decode the multilayered symbolism of these beings and will consider how the folklore surrounding demons, foxes, and tengu may reflect traditional societal anxieties, gender dynamics, and moral values. These trickster spirits reveal a world where the boundaries between reality and myth blur.

Special thanks to Max Greenwood.

Images: Yōshū Chikanobu 楊洲周延 (Japanese, 1838–1912). Taira no Koremochi and the Demon of Mt. Tagakushi, 1848. Color woodblock print. Allen Memorial Art Museum, 1943.299.

Yōshū Chikanobu 楊洲周延 (Japanese, 1838–1912). Itabana: Ushiwakamaru Fencing with the Tengu at Mt. Kurama, 1852. Color woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper. Mary A. Ainsworth Bequest, 1950.602.

Utagawa Hiroshige I 初代目歌川広重 (Japanese, 1797–1858). New Year's Eve Firefoxes at the Changing Tree at Ōji, from One Hundred Famous Views of Edi (Meisho Edo Hyakkei), 1857. 1950.1457, Mary A. Ainsworth Bequest.

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi 月岡芳年 (Japanese, 1839–1892). Watanabe no Tsuna and the Demon of Rashōmon, 1887. Color wooodblock print. Gift of Paul F. Walter (OC 1957), 1988.29.30.