Tengu Messengers Colliding in Midair 1882

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi created this woodblock print of Tengu Messengers colliding around the late 19th century. This comic image depicts two Tengu messengers, supernatural creatures from Japanese folklore, crashing into each other in mid-air. The Tengu are recognizable by their bird-like features, particularly their wings and long noses. In the background, we see a modernized view of Mount Fuji, complete with telegraph poles, contrasting the traditional mythical beings with emerging technologies of the Meiji period. Yoshitoshi worked during a time of rapid modernization and Westernization in Japan, so we might understand this work as a playful commentary on the clash between old traditions and new ways of life. The artist’s choice of a mythical subject matter combined with contemporary elements reflects the tensions of a society in transition. By researching the social history of Japan during the Meiji era and studying Yoshitoshi’s other works, we can gain a deeper understanding of this print's cultural significance and satirical intent.