TENGU ON MOUNT KURAMA

A special elaborate blog - first of its kind- dedicated to the painting 'Tengu on Mount Kurama': what are the ideas behind this painting, why did I start the series 'Japanese mythology', what are tengu, on Japanese woodblock prints and Mount Kurama itself and a trip down to memory lane.

I hope you like this blog and if you have any questions or remarks, feel free to reach out to me. The painting is still available and can be viewed privately by appointment in my home.

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Interested in the 'making of'?
I have made a short (2 min) video of the process, showing you a little insight in my creation process.

Video: The making of 'Tengu on Mount Kurama'

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Philo Ouweleen. Tengu on Mount Kurama, from the series Japanese mythology.
2020, Gouache on Fabriano 200 g water color paper, 55x85cm.
€ 750. Framed: € 920, in 70x100cm Barth frame with CLARITY AR70 Glass

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ABOUT The series: Japanese MYTHOLOGY

A series of paintings with gouache, exploring the world of Japanese mythology.

During my childhood I was completely hooked on comics, books and animation and loved immersing myself in other (fantasy) worlds. But more often than not those worlds were in some way connected to 'reality'. Fantasy and reality co-exist: how fantastical is reality and how absurd and wonderful is everyday life?

Japanese myths appear in Japanese art, but also in daily life and visual culture, showing pictures and stories of monsters, tales and fantastical creatures, spirits and gods.

I started this project amidst the throws of the Covid19 pandemic, a time in which I find it extra enjoyable to read such stories and research this rich visual history. With my project I want to introduce people to all kinds of fascinating Japanese myths, but also prod and stimulate imagination, fantasy, a sense of wonder and mystery, and feelings of playfulness.

To aid me in this process, and to take another path creatively, all these works will be significantly larger in size than my previous paintings.

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ABOUT THE PAINTING: TENGU ON MOUNT KURAMA

Fall at Mount Kurama, close to Kyoto. Two tengu eggs are hatching near Sōjōbō (a very powerful tengu residing at Mount Kurama), symbolizing the ongoing cycle of life even in times of crisis. Sōjōbō is holding his fan with which he can create terrible storms.

Soon seven tengu will be gathered amidst the falling autumn leaves on Mount Kurama. Seven is a lucky number in Japan. Upon closer inspection, we see that Sōjōbō's fan also consists of seven feathers.

I hope you enjoy the painting, for my hope is for it to bring a bit of colour, imaginary power, playfulness and positivity to those that view it.
 

Detail from the painting 'Tengu on Mount Kurama'

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TENGU

Tengu: This painting refers to tales and legends involving tengu and visual representations of tengu found in Japanese woodblock prints, combined with my own imagination. Tengu are one of the many legendary creatures found in Japanese culture, and are considered both yōkai (supernatural beings) or Shinto kami (gods).

They have been depicted as birds, bird-like creatures and nowadays their most defining characteristic is a long red nose. For centuries there was a belief that tengu were disruptive creatures up to no good,  but their image has changed into one of protective, yet still somewhat dangerous, spirits dwelling in mountains and forests.

Over time, Tengu have also become associated and linked to the Yamabushi, followers of the Shugendō religion. Yamabushi wear a costume,  including a small cap on the front of the cranium called the tokin. 

Tengu have also been pictured wearing this characteristic headwear and I have also featured this in my painting, inspired by the Japanese woodblock prints featuring tengu wearing tokin.

A cheeky fan print of a tengu smoking on a shrine gate (torii) and wearing a tokin,
c. 1890 by Ogata Gekko.

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King of the tengu: Sōjōbō

According to legends, the king of the tengu Sōjōbō resides on Mount Kurama, close to Kyoto. Looking at Japanese woodblock prints, he is often pictured as an old bearded man with a large nose, wearing a red cloak and holding his fan with which he can stir up terrible storms.

We often see him pictured together with a young boy: Yoshitsune or Ushiwakamaru.
As the story goes, at the age of ten, he was taken care of by monks of the Kurama temple, in the mountains close to Kyoto. Wandering around in the forest, he came across Sōjōbō, who recognized Yoshitsune’s talent in the martial arts and made him his pupil, teaching the boy the arts of swordsmanship, tactics, and magic.

Many prints visualizing this particular story aided me in my visualisation of not only Sōjōbō, but also the other tengu and their many forms and appearances.

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Triptych by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi: Ushiwakamaru learns the martial arts from Sōjōbō (Ushiwakamaru Sōjōbō ni bujutsu o uku) . Published in 1865.

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Triptych by Utagawa Kuniyoshi: Ushiwakamaru learns the martial arts from Sōjōbō (Minamoto no Ushiwaka-maru Sojo-bo ni shitagatte bujutsu o manabu no zu). Published c. 1847-1852.

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MOUNT KURAMA: TWO VISITS AND MEMORIES FROM THE PAST

Sometimes the seed for something goes back many years. In this case, the first time I visited Mount Kurama was back in 2015-2016, when I was studying in Kyoto at the Ritsumeikan University. This was during my study abroad year, and together with close friends we took the train up to the mountains. A perfect day trip from closeby Kyoto. Stopping at station Kurama a large tengu awaited us. We hiked up Mount Kurama and I was impressed by this place and the natural splendor of the whole area. View slideslow to take a trip down to memory lane with me.

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I would soon return once more, when my parents payed me a visit all the way from the Netherlands. I wanted to take them to this place and enjoy the atmosphere and beauty together. This second time I was particularly struck by the beautiful roots of the huge trees. The roots seemed to me like rivers flowing everywhere, without boundaries, endlessly, throughout the forest. I took many pictures and in the back of my mind I knew, someday, somehow, these roots would re-appear. Little would I know at the time that I would, more than five years later, start a series of paintings focusing on Japanese mythology and that Mount Kurama would re-appear but this time by my paintbrush.

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A MESSAGE OF HOPE

I made the tengu a little mischievous, some a bit more omnious but the overall message of the painting is a positive one:  life goes on, even in times of crisis.

UK artist David Hockney sent a message of hope on March 18th 2020, accompanied by his own painting:

Do remember they can't cancel the spring.

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AUTUMN COLOURS

'Tengu on Mount Kurama' was painted during autumn season in the Netherlands in that same year, 2020.

Mount Kurama is known as an excellent place for some 'red leaf hunting' or momijigari 紅葉狩り. This simply means to enjoy the autumn colors and actively look for places where they can best be enjoyed.

'Autumn, yes, perfect' I decided, adding a whole lot of colour to the painting and the composition. 

Tengu, Mount Kurama , Japanese mythology and a message of hope painted in a bright colour palette.  It all comes together in this painting, created during the Covid pandemic.

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I hope you enjoyed this blog.

Detail from the painting 'Tengu on Mount Kurama'

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