Jigoku dayuu 　地獄太夫

KEY WORD :　art history / paintings

A famous courtesan of Sakai 堺 known for her relationship with the Daitokuji 大徳寺 priest *Ikkyuu 一休 (1394-1481). She took the name Jigoku dayuu meaning Grand Courtesan of Hell, to contrast with the more angelic connotations of Hotoke gozen 仏御前 (Lady Buddha), consort of Taira no Kiyomori 平清盛 (1118-81). According to SAKAIKAGAMI 堺鏡 (Mirror of Sakai), the courtesan's fame was assured when Ikkyuu while visiting her, recited "More than hearing, seeing is a terrifying hell," to which she replied in linking verse "The living come, but even they fall." Jigoku dayuu is said to have studied meditation with Ikkyuu and eventually achieved enlightenment. The story of Jigoku dayuu and Ikkyuu was embellished by Santou Kyouden 山東京伝 (1761-1816) in his woodblock print novel *yomihon 読本, HONCHOU SUIBODAI ZENDEN 本朝酔菩提全伝 (Complete Accounts of Drunken Enlightenment in Our Country IV, 1809), on which most *ukiyo-e 浮世絵 depictions are based. Jigoku dayuu is shown alone or together with Ikkyuu and she often wears a padded formal over-robe *uchikake 打掛け decorated with scenes of hell. One type of illustration of Jigoku dayuu showing her, Ikkyuu and dancing skeletons, derives from the IKKYUU GAIKOTSU 一休骸骨 (Ikkyuu's Skeletons), a prose piece on the vanity of life attributed to Ikkyuu. Notable examples include prints by Utagawa Kuniyoshi 歌川国芳 (1797-1861) and a painting by Kawanabe Gyousai 河鍋暁斎 (1831-89).

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