The notorious bandit kidomaru, appearing in this print as a giant wild man, springs from his hiding place by the side of the road and makes a mad rush for his enemy raiko. He is overpowered and soon slain by raiko's four retainers. Kidomaru was a bandit in the 10th century who terrorized the local people with witchcraft he learned from goblins ("tengu"). The legendary hero raiko-- in real life minamoto no yorimitsu (944-1021)-- was commissioned by the emperor to rid the country of such bandits. Date: between circa 1851 and circa 1852 (late Edo). Place of creation: Japan. Dimensions: each panel: 37.4 × 25.4 cm (14.7 × 10 in). Medium: pigments on mulberry paper. Collection: Walters Art Museum. Yamaguchiya Tobei - A Bandit Wizard Attacks Raiko - Walters 95334
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