An Assortment of Thunder Gods

(Kaminari zukushi, 雷づくし)

Publisher: Yeshima

c. 1840-1842

The thunder god is known as either Raijin or as Kaminari Sama. He is usually portrayed with drums having the mitsu tomoye (three commas) design. This series is not listed in Kuniyoshi by Basil William Robinson (Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1961). The images are each about 7 by 10 inches (18 by 25 centimeters), a size known as chûban. Two images were printed on a sheet of paper about 14 by 10 inches (36 by 25 centimeters), a size known as ôban. I am grateful to Robert Pryor for his contributions to this series.

	Title: The thunder thief (Kaminari no shiranami, 雷の白浪) Description: Two assistants of the thunder god Raijin catching the thunder thief, who is disguised as a peasant, with lightning hooks Title: Shôki Hates Thunder (Kaminari kirai no Shôki, 雷きらひの鍾馗) Description: Shôki the Demon Queller hiding from Raijin under a mosquito net
	Another state of the above design
	Title: Prelude to a Thunderstorm (Yûdachi no maebure, 雷尽夕立の前ぶれ) Description: The lightning goddess watching oni as thunder gods carry a thunder drum on a lightning hook Title: Cloud training (Kumo shugyô, 雲修行) Description: Thunder gods as Miyamoto Musashi and the hermit Kasahara
	I am grateful to Michael O’Clair for this alternate state with the oni in the left upper corner wearing a jacket with mitsudomoe (three commas) crests
	Title: Irrigation in the River of Heaven (Amanogawa no sekisui, 天の川のせき水) Description: Thunder gods on a river bank NOTE: The River of Heaven is the Milkey Way Title: Thunder Beasts Biting Each Other (Raijû no kami ai, 雷獣のかみ会ひ) Description: Thunder gods watching raijû (thunder beasts) fight NOTE: This may be a parody of the otsu-e of a blind man and a dog.

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