The Cave Door of Spring
Medium
pentaptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
18.8 × 21.4 cm
Classification
Department
Japanese Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Bequest of James Parmelee
Accession Number
1940.990
Tags
male
About this artwork
These prints form a composition inspired by a story about the deity Amaterasu. She was once so offended by her brother that she retreated into a cave, leaving the earth in darkness. Several attempts to lure her out with cocks crowing, music-making, and a goddess dancing failed, but a mirror hung from a nearby tree made Amaterasu curious, bringing her to the entrance of the cave. A stone was quickly placed at the entrance to block her way back into the cave, and light was restored to the world. T...