Suzuki Harunobu (1725-1770) | Parody of Bodhidharma crossing the sea on a reed | Edo period, 18th century

A young courtesan veiled in pink cape and cowl looks back as she crosses a body of water on a reed. This is a mitate-e, or parody picture, satirizing the tale of Bodhidharma (Daruma) who is said to have transmitted Chan (Zen) Buddhism to China from India by crossing the sea on a reed. During the Edo period (1615-1868), writers and artists made numerous parodies on the subject of Daruma and courtesans of the pleasure quarters, remarking that while Daruma spent nine years in a cave in zazen meditation, a courtesan's tenure at a brothel was typically contracted at ten years, and thus their enlightenment greater.

This print is known in three states: the first with dark sky and outline on the robe represented here; the second with a conventional band of mist added; the third with blue printed sky, scalloped clouds and robe embossed without outline.

For a similar impression of the first state in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, accession number 21.4604 go to:

https://collections.mfa.org/objects/232281

For an impression of the third state in the collection of the British Museum, museum number 1945,1101,0.43, go to:

https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/A_1945-1101-0-43