The Mouse Story

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Place of production or style: Otogi zōshi illustrated tales
Number of components: Set of 5 handscrolls
Format and materials: Color on paper
Dimensions (in cm): Vol. 1: L. 33.8, W. 560.0/ Vol. 2: L. 33.8, W. 565.1/ Vol. 3: L.33.8, W. 563.3/ Vol. 4: L. 33.8. W.470.0/ Vol. 5: L. 33.8 W. 474.0
Date of production: Muromachi to Momoyama period 16th century

The town mouse Gon-no-kami goes to Kiyomizudera Temple to pray to be married to a human to save his offspring from the Buddhist animal realm. There, he meets a beautiful maiden and marries her. However, the marriage collapses when she finds out that he is a mouse. In his sorrow, Gon-no-kami renounces the lay world and goes up to Mt. Kōya.　The dialog, which uses the names of people and mice, speaking in colloquial language, is included with the paintings in the scroll; the explanatory notes describe the chatter of the mice which is unrelated to the main story. The scene in which the busy kitchen staff are preparing the banquet draws attention as a genre painting depicting the food and drink of the day. It is an outstanding example of a otogi zōshi (illustrated narrative) picture scroll.

Notable Works

The Mouse Story

SUNTORY MUSEUM of ART