REFERENCE

Japanese Yokai and Other Supernatural Beings: Authentic Paintings and Prints of 100 Ghosts, Demons, Monsters and Magicians

by Andreas Marks
Tuttle. Apr. 2023. 240p. ISBN 9784805317150. $29.99. REF
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Award-winning curator of Japanese art Marks (Minneapolis Inst. of Art; Japanese Woodblock Prints, 40th Ed.; Japan Journeys: Famous Woodblock Prints of Cultural Sites in Japan) collects images and stories of 100 supernatural beings, divided by category (demons; kabuki ghosts; vengeful spirits). Following an introduction to hand scrolls and woodblocks and background on the roots and history of Japanese folklore, alphabetical entries on each being—including Rain Woman, daija (monster snakes), and the ogre Shōki, slayer of demons—detail traits and backstories, alongside artistic renderings. The book includes more than 130 images from museums worldwide, most in rich color, including a significant number never before published.
VERDICT Scholars of art can learn from the detailed captions, while folklore and horror fans will appreciate the creepy images of skeletons and vicious Kasha and his burning chariot.
Reviewed by Maggie Knapp , Oct 01, 2023
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