Susano-o no Mikoto Killing the Eight-headed Dragon

Art Historical Context

In the vibrant world of 18th-century Japanese ukiyo-e prints, Torii Kiyomasu II's *Susano-o no Mikoto Killing the Eight-headed Dragon* (1748) captures a thrilling moment from ancient Shinto mythology. The heroic storm god Susano-o, brother of the sun goddess Amaterasu, battles the fearsome eight-headed serpent Yamata no Orochi, a tale from the *Kojiki* chronicle symbolizing the triumph of order over chaos. This narrow hosoban-format woodblock print, measuring just 31.9 × 4.7 cm, was designed for easy display or distribution, reflecting the era's booming print culture. Torii Kiyomasu II, a master of the Torii school—renowned for bold yakusha-e actor portraits promoting kabuki theater—applied his dramatic style here to mythological drama. Using intricate woodblock techniques, he layered vibrant colors and dynamic lines to convey motion and intensity, with the serpent's writhing heads and Susano-o's poised strike leaping off the page. Produced during the Edo period's golden age of woodblock printing, these affordable images brought epic legends to everyday viewers, blending entertainment with cultural reverence. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, this petite yet powerful print exemplifies how ukiyo-e democratized art, immortalizing Japan's rich folklore for generations.

About the Artist

Torii Kiyomasu II · 1706–1763

At one point this artist was incorrectly identified as Kiyonobu II.