Tamatori & Sea Dragon Kuniyoshi Japanese Fine Art Poster

Tamatori Pursued By Sea Dragon, Utagawa Kuniyoshi. Color woodblock print, Edo (Tokyo), c.1850. Tamatori means egg-taker. The woman had stolen an egg that belonged to the sea god. Utagawa Kuniyoshi (ca. 1797 - April 14, 1861) was one of the last great masters of the Japanese ukiyo-e style of woodblock prints and painting and belonged to the Utagawa school. Ryujin (Japanese lit."dragon god") also known as Rinjin and Owatatsumi, was the god of the sea in Japanese mythology. Large mouth and a long greenish body; able to transform into a human shape. He lived in Ryugu-jo, his palace under the sea built out of red and white coral, from where he controlled the tides with magical tide jewels. Sea turtles, fish and jellyfish are often depicted as Ryujin's servants. Ryujin was the father of the beautiful goddess Otohime who married the hunter prince Hoori. The first Emperor of Japan, Emperor Jimmu, is said to have been a grandson of Otohime and Hoori's. Thus, Ryujin is one of the ancestors of the Japanese imperial dynasty. Vintage cool scary dragon Asian mythological creatures animal and woman nature fine art.