"Kintaro Reading an Ehon on the Back of a Bear Accompanied by an Oni Holding an Ax" (ca 1784-1806), Torii Kiyonaga (1752-1815)

Image by Laku

Medium: Woodblock print Dimensions: N/A

Kintaro is a character based off of a popular Japanese folktale in which he was born much larger and stronger than a normal human baby. In this tale, Kintaro beats a black bear in a wrestling duel and becomes good friends, hence the depiction of the creature. There is also an ax wielding Oni, which is a foreshadow of his lifestyle as a brave and strong warrior. In the original lore, Kintaro grows up and changes his name to Sakata no Kintoki after catching a mountain Oni named Shuten-doji. This is likely what is behind Kintaro in this image. Kintaro is a very popular character in Japan, and this incorporation of a supernatural figure (Oni) is one example of how Yurei-zu as a genre was organically accepted; Japanese culture was filled with supernatural beings, so the concept of Yurei was not new for the public.

https://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/72/japanese-fairy-tales/3080/the-adventures-of-kintaro-the-golden-boy/