tengu　天狗

KEY WORD :　art history / paintings

Lit. celestial dog. A bird-like goblin frequently encountered in Japanese folk-beliefs, literature and their pictorial depictions. The Japanese demons derive the name from the Chinese mountain god Tiangou (Jp: Tengu 天狗), but also are related to the winged Buddhist deity Garuda. Furthermore, tengu are seen as transformations keshin 化身 of Shinto deities yama-no-kami 山の神, mountain guardians often associated with tall trees. Tengu are of two physical types; karasutengu 烏天狗 identified by a bird's head and beak, and konoha tengu 木の葉天狗 distinguished by a human physique but with wings and a long nose. This type of tengu often carries a feather fan in one hand. Because of its long nose, tengu are associated with the Shinto deity Sarutahiko 猿田彦 who takes on the visage of a monkey, and tengu masks play a prominent role in some religious festivals. Early Japanese popular tales such as those in the KONJAKU MONOGATARI 今昔物語 (early 12c) portray tengu as enemies of Buddhism, setting fires at temples or tricking priests. Priests who attain special powers through religious discipline, but use these powers for their own ends were thought to enter in the next life the transmigratory realm of tengudou 天狗道. The earliest representations of tengu are in Kamakura period *emaki 絵巻, such as the Tengu zoushi emaki 天狗草紙絵巻 (1296), Nezu 根津 Museum, Tokyo, which criticize arrogant priests who end up becoming tengu. According to legend, as a boy the famous warrior Minamoto no *Yoshitsune 源義経 (1159-89) trained in magical swordsmanship with the tengu king Soujoubou 僧正坊 near Kuramadera 鞍馬寺 in the mountains north of Kyoto. Tengu frequently are shown in pictures concerning the life of Yoshitsune, including both the Hogen-Heiji 保元平治 battle screens, Metropolitan Museum NY, and depictions of Hashi Benkei 橋弁慶 (*Benkei 弁慶 at the Bridge) theme. The Momoyama period daimyo 大名 Kobayakawa Takakage 小早川隆景 (1533-97) supposedly held dialogues with the tengu king Buzenbou 豊前坊 on Mt. Hiko 彦. The character of tengu gradually changed over the centuries. For instance, tengu were long thought to abduct children, but by the Edo period they often were enlisted to aid in the search for missing children. Similarly, tengu became temple guardians and sculpted images of them were placed on or around temple buildings. Tengu also are associated with yamabushi 山伏 (mountain ascetics), whose form they often assumed. Tengu often are depicted wearing the yamabushi's distinctive cap and robe. Illustration of tengu increased in popularity and variety during the Edo period, usually reflecting the more positive and even light-hearted conception of the once-ferocious demon. In particular, the long nose of the tengu carried both comic and sexual meaning in *ukiyo-e 浮世絵 prints.

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