78 Kōgyo Tsukioka 1869 – 1927 Kurama Tengu

publisher: Matsuki Heikichi (Daikokuya Heikichi)

One of 261 prints from Tsukioka Kōgyo’s monumental series Nōgakuzue (“Illustrations of Noh Plays”), depicting a scene from the play Kurama Tengu (“The Goblin of Mount Kurama”), attributed to the 15th-century playwright Miyamasu.
The goblin chief (tengu), disguised as a mountain priest (yamabushi), prepares to teach the boy Ushiwaka the art of war.

In the story, a priest from Kuramadera Temple takes his pupils, including young Ushiwaka, to view the blossoms across the mountain. There they encounter the mysterious yamabushi, who later reveals himself as the goblin chief and fulfills his secret promise to train Ushiwaka in martial arts — foretelling the rise of the legendary warrior Minamoto no Yoshitsune.

Kōgyo’s print captures the refined stillness and spiritual gravity of the Noh stage, rendered with subtle coloring, graceful gesture, and meditative balance characteristic of his celebrated Nōgakuzue series.