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.

 

Title: Kaminari no shiranami (雷の白波)

Description: Thunder gods pursuing a thief

Title: Kaminari girai no Shôki (雷ぎらいの鍾馗)

Description: Shôki the Demon Queller caught in mosquito netting

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 large drum

Title: Martial Arts Training of the Thunder God (Kaminari shûgyô, 雷づくし 雷修行

Description: Thunder gods as Miyamoto Musashi and the hermit Kasahara

 

I am grateful to Michael O'Clair for this image.

 

 

 

Title: Thunder Beasts Biting Each Other (Raijû no kamiai, 雷づくし)

Description: Thunder gods watching animals fight

 

Title: Irrigation in the River of Heaven (Ama no kawa no sekisui, 天の川のせき水)

Description: Thunder gods on a river bank

 

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