Accession Number
1948/1.120

Title
Kozan-ji Makimono: Scroll with Animal Caricatures (Hares and Frogs) [facsimile]

Artist(s)
Toba Sōjō

Object Creation Date
circa 1940

Medium & Support
brush and India ink on paper

Dimensions
11 3/4 in (29.85 cm)

Credit Line
Bequest of Margaret Watson Parker

Subject matter
While there is no consensus on why the Frolicking Animals Scroll (Chōjū jinbutsu giga) was produced, it is generally asserted that it was created as a humorous work perhaps as a satire of religious and court rituals. The work is believed to be one of the earliest surviving oko-e, comic paintings produced by Heian-period aristocrats as a leisure activity. It has been attributed to the monk-painter Toba Sōjō (1053-1140), however there is no conclusive evidence to link the painting to his hand. The handscroll was designated a National Treasure in 1952. 

Physical Description
This handscroll is a facsimile of the twelfth or thirteenth century Frolicking Animals Scroll (Chōjū jinbutsu giga) that depicts anthropomorphic monkeys, frogs, foxes and rabbits in various scenes. The scroll is painted in monochromatic ink with lively brushwork. The scroll contains no written text, and the discrete scenes of the scroll are separated by short stretches of landscape. The scroll appears to narrate the events of a festival held by various animals, culminating in a Buddhist ceremony. The scroll begins with a scene of rabbits and monkeys ritually washing themselves in a river. The next scene shows frogs and rabbits engaged in an archery competition. Frogs, foxes and rabbits watch as a rabbit nocks an arrow and takes aim at the target made of a large lotus leaf. Behind the figure, a group of rabbit teammates look on with excitement, while the frogs seem dismayed at the rabbit’s apparent skill. The next scene depicts rabbits, frogs and a fox dressed in robes bringing storage boxes out towards the archery competition, suggesting the preparations for an elaborate ritual. Additional rabbits and frogs lead a deer and a boar to a group of monkeys dressed in the robes of the Buddhist clergy, and hand the reigns of their livestock to the monks. The next scene shows a group surrounding two dancing frogs. Some of the onlookers watch the performance, while others are distracted by a frog who collapsed on the ground, and rush to its assistance. Beyond the dancing frogs is a scene of a wrestling match between the frogs and rabbits. Two rabbits watch as a frog bites his opponent’s ears, while a second group of frogs are delighted as another wrestler throws a rabbit to the ground. Next, a group of rabbits, frogs and foxes are seated watching a monkey dressed as a monk performing a ritual before a frog Buddha. Some of the onlookers weep into their sleeves, while others hold Buddhist rosaries and sutra scrolls. The final scene depicts luxury goods being donated to the officiating monk, who is shown seated behind a large pile of fruits and a rice bag. A rabbit brings another basket of produce, while another carries a tiger skin. Two frogs follow, carrying a lotus blossom and a large scroll respectively. 

Primary Object Classification
Painting

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
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Keywords
Japanese Buddhism
caricatures
hares
scroll paintings
wild animals