Japanese Ghosts and Demons

A touring exhibition from the ashmolean museum Oxford

Giant Spiders, dancing skeletons, winged goblins and hordes of ghostly warriors are among the spooky subjects depicted in this exhibition of striking nineteenth-century woodblock prints, drawn from the Ashmolean Museum's rich collection of Japanese art. 

The exhibition explores fascinating and varied tales from Japanese myth and legend, including ancient ghost stories, fabled warriors, and strange tales of the supernatural.

Ghostly beings have long been represented in Japanese art and literature: depicted in both paintings and prints and turned into hair-raising dramas for the kabuki theatre.

This exhibition presents the Japanese supernatural as portrayed through ukiyo-e popular prints – mass-produced woodblock prints that were a product of the vibrant entertainment culture which thrived in Japan's major cities during the Edo period (1600-1867).

Characterised by vivid colours and bold designs that made them hugely influential on Western artists in the late 1800s, ukiyo-e most commonly depicted beautiful courtesans and kabuki actors who were the fashionable celebrities of their day.

But ukiyo-e designers also vied with each other to satisfy the public's appetite for images of the bizarre and the macabre, often drawing inspiration from kabuki performances of ghost stories.

This exhibition focuses on works by the celebrated artists Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861) and Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892), two of the most prolific and successful print designers of their day.

According to Japan's native Shinto religion, spirits reside everywhere – in forests, fields, mountains, rivers and in the home.

Even stones can harbour ghosts. The 'Night Weeping Rock' on the Tokaido Road was said to be haunted by the distraught spirit of a young woman killed by bandits while travelling to visit her husband.

Animals can also possess supernatural powers, as in the tale of the Cat Witch. Disguised as a friendly old woman, she lured young girls into her house to kill and devour them.

The arrival of Buddhism in Japan during the sixth century AD brought with it a host of more supernatural beings, and many Chinese folk tales of spirits and monsters were absorbed into Japanese tradition. 

There are many kinds of ghosts in Japan, including household objects that come to life, animals with supernatural powers, mischievous demons and the vengeful spirits of cruelly-wronged women. 

This exhibition presents 25 delightfully spooky ukiyo-e prints, including a number of dramatic multiple sheet images that have rarely been on public display before.

All the works are original colour woodblock prints on paper and are mounted and framed. The exhibition selection includes 16 portrait prints and eight hair-raising landscape triptychs, depicting a wide selection of ghostly apparitions such as magical frogs, supernatural gatherings and a drowned ghost-army. The exhibition also includes a rare vertical diptych by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi.

The exhibition is perfect to coincide with Halloween but can suit any time of the year. In Japan ghosts are associated with the hot and humid summer months, when scary stories send a welcome shiver down the spine!

The exhibition can be adapted to suit all venue sizes up to 150 square metres and comes with object labels and interpretation panel content and design. The exhibition is usually available to hire for a 12 week display period.

The exhibition hire fee includes:

• The selection of mounted and framed woodblock ukiyo-e prints

• Transport of exhibition from and return to Oxford (if venue is under 140 miles from the Ashmolean), and technical installation support if required

• Object labels and text panel content and design

• The exhibition's curator will be available for a lecture at the touring venue

• A selection of three images (to be determined by the venue) for use in the venue's press and publicity

• Object preparation and condition reporting

• Tour co-ordination by the Ashmolean Museum Registrars' Department

Japanese Ghosts and Demons: Woodblock prints from the Ashmolean Museum is a touring exhibition from the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. 

All our touring exhibitions are curated by experts from the University of Oxford and based on original research. They utilise works of art and historical objects from the collections of the Ashmolean, to tell fascinating stories across cultures and time. All curators are available to give a lecture as part of the exhibition package.

Our exhibitions can be adapted to suit all venue sizes up to 150 square metres.  

Our touring exhibitions team will provide expert assistance with all aspects of the exhibition, from the planning stages to the installation and beyond. We aim to build long term, mutually beneficial relationships with our touring partners.

Please contact us if you are interested in hiring, or require any further information:

Touring Exhibitions, Ashmolean Museum:

E: touring.exhibitions@ashmus.ox.ac.uk

T: 01865 288 074/197

W: www.ashmolean.org/touring