Version of Legend of Michizane: Woman Riding Ox Which a Man is Leading 1763 - 1828

This woodblock print, 'Version of Legend of Michizane: Woman Riding Ox Which a Man is Leading,' was created by Utagawa Toyohiro in Japan, during the Edo period. Here, Toyohiro engages with a well known story and gives it a new perspective. A woman is seen seated high on an ox, led by a man on foot; this subverts traditional gender roles. The woman’s clothing suggests a certain social status, making her placement on the ox a symbol of authority. What does it mean to see a woman in a position of power in this time and place? The man, seemingly of lower status, performs a role of servitude, leading the ox, with his head covered by a cloth. The print invites us to consider the complex layers of identity and social expectations in the Edo period. Who gets to tell the story of this journey? How does Toyohiro challenge or reinforce our understanding of gender, class, and power? This piece makes us think about how these dynamics shape not only the narrative but also our emotional connection to the characters.