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Description
12" (30 cm.) Paper mache carved head with gofun finish, sculpted and painted demonic features including a very wide evil smile, painted fangs, and two horns peeking from her long black unbraided hair which tumbles down her back. Her attire, signifying a noble background, includes a long outer uchigake with osode long sleeves having ties at the wrists, layered under-kimonos (one layer with gold thread embroidery), silk crepe hakama skirt, and trailing silk gauze train, and she carries a mallet as a symbol of her rage. Generally excellent, mallet not original. Edo period, early 1800s. The figure depicts Dojoji, a young noblewoman who, in legends, has determined to win the favors of a handsome - albeit celibate - young priest. He evades her, hiding in the Dojoji temple, and incurs her wrath which is depicted in this transformative figure. The legend, with many adaptations, was told for many centuries, and then popularized in the 19th century Kabuki theatre. This particular Dojoji is shown and discussed in Ningyo, The Art of the Japanese Doll by Alan Scott Pate, page 207.