Suzuki Harunobu 鈴木春信 (1725?–1770)
Bishamonten
Japan, Edo period (1615–1868), c. 1769
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Gift of James A. Michener, 1970
(15560)

Many of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune (shichifukujin) have an air of worldliness about them, but here Harunobu reminds us that even the god Bishamonten, who is dedicated to defending the Buddhist faith, needs to relax from time to time. The women attending Bishamonten have tied their obi sashes, indicating that they are prostitutes.

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