Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861) | The Diving Woman Recovers the Stolen Jewel from the Dragon King's Palace | Edo period, 19th century

This rare and dynamic print shows Tamatori (or Ama, the diving girl) being hotly pursued through crashing waves by a particularly terrifying dragon and an assortment of octopi and various fish. She has recovered the pearl from the palace of the Dragon king which she protects in her breast. In her right hand she confidently brandishes a sword as she turns to meet her attackers.

This scene is from the legend surrounding the founder of the Fujiwara family, Kamatari (614-69) and a precious pearl (tama). One day the pearl is stolen by one of the Dragon kings and in shame Katamari goes into self-exile in Fukazaki. After some time he meets a beautiful female diver, Ama, with whom he has a son. Katamari realises that Ama could help him recover the pearl and after several attempts, she dives and successfully retrieves the pearl but is pursued by the sea creatures that guard the Dragon king’s palace. She hides the jewel by cutting open her breast and places it inside, and it is her blood filling the water which forces the creatures to give up their pursuit. She finally dies after being pulled aboard a boat, but the jewel is recovered and her bravery immortalised in prints such as the present lot.

For another example and further reading, see Robert Schaap, Heroes & Ghosts: Japanese prints by Kuniyoshi 1797-1861, (Amsterdam, 1998), cat. nos. 62 and 63, p. 83-84.

For another impression in the collection of the British Museum, museum number 2008,3037.21223, go to:

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/A_2008-3037-21223