Maruami Gorō Saved by Fudō's Attendant Seitaka from Narita Shrine - Utagawa Kunisada

A traditional Japanese woodblock print by Utagawa Kunisada depicting the deity's attendant Seitaka rescuing Maruami Gorō above a turbulent sea.

This woodblock print by Utagawa Kunisada depicts a scene from Japanese folklore involving the deity Fudō Myō-ō and his attendant, Seitaka Dōji. The narrative centres on the rescue of Maruami Gorō, a figure associated with the Narita Shrine. Seitaka is shown floating upon stylised clouds above a turbulent sea, holding a staff topped with a lotus flower. The composition follows the conventions of mid-nineteenth-century Ukiyo-e, where figures are rendered with clear outlines and flat areas of colour, balanced against the rhythmic, repetitive patterns of the waves below.

Kunisada, also known as Utagawa Toyokuni III, was a prolific designer of prints during the Edo period. His work often drew upon kabuki theatre and religious iconography. In this piece, the figure of Seitaka is dressed in traditional robes with decorative borders, reflecting the aesthetic preferences of the era. The use of cartouches for text provides context for the scene, a common feature in Japanese prints of this period. The colour palette relies on muted tones, with the deep blues of the water contrasting against the lighter, cloud-filled sky. The print demonstrates the technical skill of the carvers and printers who collaborated with Kunisada to produce these works for a wide audience. The depiction of the deity's attendant serves to communicate the protective nature of the Narita Fudō, a subject that held cultural resonance for pilgrims and visitors to the shrine. The work remains a clear example of the narrative print style that defined the later years of the Utagawa school.