Japan: Ibaraki, the Demon of Rashomon, retrieves her arm, Ukiyo-e painting by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839-1892)

According to legend, Watanabe no Tsuna was challenged by a friend to spend the night at the Hojo Temple in Kyoto where he could have an encounter with the only demon left in Japan.

Disturbed in the middle of the night, he flailed wildly with his sword, cutting off the arm of the awful Ibaraki, the Demon of Rashomon. Later as Watanabe performs Shinto rights over the arm, Ibaraki returns disguised as his elderly aunt, retrieves the arm, and flies away.

Here Watanabe sits before a box containing the arm, wrapped with sacred ropes known as shimenawa, used for purification. The disguised Ibaraki peers into the container, a look of alarm on her wizened face, her long white hair flowing down her back.

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Supplier: CPA Media Co. Ltd.

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Pictures From History

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