DepartmentAsia

School for Spooks (Bakebake gakkō)

NameWoodblock print

Maker Kyōsai (Japanese, 1831 - 1889)

CultureJapanese

Date1874

(not assigned)JAPAN, East Asia, Asia

MediumPaper, ink

Dimensions14 3/16 × 9 9/16 in. (36 × 24.3 cm)

Credit LineMuseum of International Folk Art, IFAF collection, FA.2020.9.1

Object numberFA.2020.9.1

DescriptionIn a scene of general chaos, Shoki the Demon Queller, at top left, teaches oni to demons seated on three benches (he is depicted as a headmaster, dressed in Western attire and sitting on a Western-style stool). To the right of Shoki a man in a yellow kimono holds up a sign with japanese lettering. Below him a kappa is teaching a class to other kappa seated at wooden student desks; he is using roman letters to spell Japanese words. Desks and other objects appear animate, which adds to the chaos. At the lower right a demon is blowing white air toward a green gate, which tumbles the demons on the other side of the gate.