The Fart Battle

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Number of components: 1
Format and materials: Color on paper
Dimensions (in cm): L. 31.0, W. 706.5
Date of production: Muromachi period 15th century 1449

A bizarre picture scroll in which Buddhist priests hold intestinal gas in the digestive tract before releasing the gas in farting competitions. Based on the colophon and the style in which it is written, it is believed that the Prince Sadafusa of Fushimi (1372-1456) had this copy made of caricatures painted in the Heian period. The star performer in the final battle is a nun who is targeting a vermilion fan. According to the notes in the picture, she is the daughter of Takamuko no Hidetake, a central character in the otogi zōshi narrative, the Tale of Fukutomi, famed for his success in the art of farting. The dialog is also in the hand of the Prince Sadafusa. Interestingly, a new farting narrative may have improvised based on old caricatures.

Notable Works

The Fart Battle

SUNTORY MUSEUM of ART