Takatoki Tengu 

This is a woodblock print by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, portraying Takatoki surrounded by Tengu. These mountain-dwelling spirits, recognizable by their long noses, are significant figures in Japanese folklore, often depicted as guardians of the mountains and possessors of supernatural powers. Note the fan Takatoki holds, a symbol of status and authority, here used in a futile attempt to ward off the encroaching Tengu. The fan, an ancient motif, carries echoes of Dionysian rituals, where it symbolized divine power. The Tengu, with their avian features, evoke ancient bird-like deities, their forms resonating with a primal, almost subconscious fear. The scene powerfully engages us on a deep level. It is an emotional echo, a shared cultural memory of vulnerability and the supernatural. This image is not merely a depiction of a historical event; it's a resurgence of archetypal figures, perpetually evolving, their meanings shifting across time yet eternally rooted in our collective psyche.