In the twilight of his prolific career, Katsushika Hokusai, the master behind the acclaimed series "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji" center-pieced by "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" entered the supernatural realm with his enigmatic series "One Hundred Ghost Stories" (百物語, Hyaku monogatari). Created around 1830, this collection of ukiyo-e woodblock prints showcases Hokusai's fascination with the eerie and fantastic, offering a window into the rich tapestry of Japanese folklore and the artist's boundless imagination. in this article we'll explore this intriguing collection, diving into the stories behind each piece and some cultural context that helps to contextualize it's themes.
1 - The Spectral Five
Despite its ambitious title, the series comprises only five known prints, each a masterpiece of supernatural artistry:
~The Plate Mansion (Sara-yashiki)~
- The Plate Mansion (Sara-yashiki): This print depicts the tragic tale of Okiku, a maid accused of breaking a valuable plate from a set of ten. Hokusai's interpretation is particularly striking, showing Okiku's spirit transformed into a serpentine creature with a body made of plates. The story varies, but in most versions, Okiku is thrown into a well by her master or commits suicide out of despair. Her ghost then emerges nightly, counting plates up to nine before letting out a bone-chilling shriek. Hokusai's rendition captures the eerie fusion of human and object, embodying the concept of tsukumogami, everyday items that gain a spirit after a hundred years.
~The Laughing Hannya (Warai-hannya)~
- The Laughing Hannya (Warai-hannya): In this chilling print, Hokusai combines two fearsome yokai: the hannya (a jealous female demon) and the yamanba (a mountain witch). The result is a terrifying creature shown devouring an infant, its face contorted in a maniacal grin. Hokusai cleverly divides the composition with a crescent arc, separating the mundane world from the supernatural realm. This visual technique, reminiscent of his landscape works, enhances the sense of otherworldliness and intrusion of the horrific into everyday life.
~The Ghost of Oiwa (Oiwa-san)~
- The Ghost of Oiwa (Oiwa-san): Based on the famous Yotsuya Kaidan ghost story, this print portrays the vengeful spirit of Oiwa, a betrayed wife. Hokusai ingeniously depicts Oiwa's ghost possessing a paper lantern, her disfigured face eerily illuminated. The lantern bears the inscription "Praise Amida / The Woman Named O-iwa" in an unusual calligraphic style. On Oiwa's forehead, Hokusai places a Buddhist seed syllable referring to Gobujo, a form of Yama, the lord of the underworld. This detail adds layers of religious symbolism to the already potent image of supernatural vengeance.
~The Ghost of Kohada Koheiji~
- The Ghost of Kohada Koheiji: This print illustrates the tale of Kohada Koheiji, a kabuki actor murdered by his wife and her lover. Hokusai depicts Koheiji as a skeletal apparition, surrounded by ghostly flames, peering through a mosquito net at the guilty couple. The artist's use of the mosquito net as a barrier between the living and the dead creates a sense of impending doom, as the vengeful spirit closes in on its prey. The stark contrast between Koheiji's bony figure and the implied presence of the living couple heightens the horror of the scene.
~Obsession (Shûnen)~
- Obsession (Shûnen): The final print in the series shows a snake coiled around a Buddhist memorial tablet (ihai), symbolizing lingering earthly attachments or obsessions that persist beyond death. The tablet bears the posthumous name Momonji, referring to a yokai that appears as a bestial old man assaulting travelers. Near the tablet are offerings and water, traditional elements of a Buddhist altar. Some interpret this image as Hokusai's self-portrait, prophesying his own obsession with art continuing after death. The juxtaposition of the snake (representing obsession) and a leaf floating on water (symbolizing a peaceful mind) creates a powerful visual metaphor for the struggle between attachment and enlightenment.
2 - Cultural Context: Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai
The "One Hundred Ghost Stories" series draws deep inspiration from the popular Edo-period game Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai, or "A Gathering of One Hundred Supernatural Tales." This game was more than mere entertainment; it was a cultural phenomenon that reflected the complex relationship between the Japanese people and the supernatural world.
Participants would gather in a room lit by one hundred andon paper lanterns. As each person shared a ghost story, they would extinguish one light. The gradual dimming created an increasingly eerie atmosphere, building tension and excitement among the participants. The final snuffed candle was believed to summon real spirits, adding a thrilling edge to the storytelling tradition.
The origins of this practice are shrouded in mystery, with popular legend attributing its beginnings to samurai using it as a test of courage. However, historians consider this unlikely, pointing instead to its widespread popularity across various social classes during the Edo period. More probable theories suggest it evolved from Buddhist storytelling traditions, though the exact origins remain unclear. The game gained particular favor as a summer activity, as the heat and humidity were thought to thin the veil between the world of the living and the spirit realm, making it an ideal time for ghost stories.
3 - Artistic Significance
Hokusai's "One Hundred Ghost Stories" series holds a unique place in the ukiyo-e tradition and Japanese art history. These prints demonstrate Hokusai's unparalleled ability to bring the supernatural world to life with the same mastery he applied to his famous landscapes and everyday scenes. The series is significant for several reasons:
- Innovation in Yokai Depiction: Hokusai's representations of yokai and ghosts pushed the boundaries of traditional depictions. By infusing everyday objects with supernatural qualities, as seen in the lantern of Oiwa or the plates forming Okiku's body, he created haunting images that were both familiar and otherworldly.
- Exploration of Human Psychology: Through these ghost stories, Hokusai delves into universal themes such as guilt, revenge, and the persistence of human emotions beyond death. This psychological depth adds layers of meaning to the visual spectacle.
- Influence on Popular Culture: The vivid and imaginative portrayals in this series have had a lasting impact on Japanese popular culture, influencing everything from later ukiyo-e artists to modern manga, anime, and film depictions of supernatural beings.
- Preservation of Folklore: By immortalizing these ghost stories in his prints, Hokusai played a role in preserving and popularizing elements of Japanese folklore, contributing to their enduring presence in the cultural consciousness.
4 - Legacy and Influence
~Utagawa Yoshiiku's Specter frightening a young woman, 1890~
Hokusai's "One Hundred Ghost Stories" series, though limited in number, left its mark on Japanese art and popular culture. Its influence can be traced through subsequent generations of artists, manga creators, and filmmakers who continue to draw inspiration from these spectral visions. The series stands as a testament to Hokusai's versatility and enduring fascination with the supernatural, proving that even in his seventies, the artist's creative spirit remained as vibrant and otherworldly as the ghosts he brought to life on paper.
5 - Experience Hokusai's Ghostly Masterpieces
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