Courtesan of Shimabara

Late Meiji Period (1868-1912) painting on silk of a courtesan riding a white elephant. Although Japan has very impressive temples and important Buddhist authorities, they also have a wonderful, irreverent sense of humor. During the formative years of Tokyo, the Samurai were forced to build palaces and have their families stay in Tokyo. However, when the building of Tokyo first began, there were only the men living in Tokyo that had been requisitioned by the Shogun for the building of the city. The Samurai in the Kyoto area had a Gay Quarters where entertainment, parties, and theatrical events took place in the company of courtesans. A similar place was eventually established in Tokyo.

This painting is the image of a magnificently clad and beautiful courtesan riding the back of an elephant. The Bodhisattva Fugen rides on an elephant, so the point of the image is the contrast between the courtesan and Bodhisattva. This would have been understood by all viewers of the time.

妓女骑象图。着色绢本立轴。明治时代（1868-1912）。品相优。与代表崇高信仰的庄严的寺庙形成对比，京都地区设有同性恋宿舍及妓院，专供武士娱乐、聚会。此画画一个骑在象背上穿着华丽的妓女，来暗喻骑象的普贤菩萨。当时的观众自可明白其中寓意。