Kani Yamabushi, from the series "Pictures of No Performances (Nogaku Zue)" 1898

Tsukioka Kôgyo created this woodblock print, Kani Yamabushi, as part of a series documenting No performances. Here, the symbolic weight of the Yamabushi, or mountain ascetic, is palpable. Note the dramatic figure in the center, cloaked in a dark wig and vibrant robes. The Yamabushi embody a fusion of Buddhist and Shinto beliefs, undertaking rigorous practices to gain spiritual power. Their image carries echoes of ancient shamanic traditions, where masks and costumes bridge the human and spirit worlds. Consider, too, the figure on the right and his raised hands: a gesture that appears across cultures in depictions of prayer, supplication, or acceptance. This gesture is a powerful invocation, tapping into a collective memory of spiritual yearning. The Yamabushi, like figures in other traditions, remind us of the cyclical journey of spiritual seeking, their image constantly reborn through art.