Sanjo Kantaro II in the Role of Urashima Taro
early 1700s
Medium
hanging scroll; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
painting only: 105.7 × 59.4 cm · including mounting: 189.2 × 64.7 cm
Classification
Painting
Department
Japanese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Dudley P. Allen Fund and various donors, by exchange
Accession Number
1961.41
Tags
About this artwork
Sanjo Kantaro II was a Kabuki actor who specialized in playing youths (wakashu) and female roles (onnagata). He is shown here in the role of Urashima Taro. He rescues a tortoise, and as a reward, the tortoise carries him to the undersea palace of the Dragon King. He believes he has spent but three days there with the Dragon King's daughter; however, when he returns to the shore, he finds 300 years have passed. The actor holds a fishing pole, indicating his occupation as a fisherman. The upper po...