Japanese gods: Traditional Wood Block Print
Amaterasu is a part of the Japanese myth cycle and also a major deity of the Shinto religion. She is seen as the goddess of the sun, but also of the universe. The name Amaterasu derived from Amateru meaning “shining in heaven.” The meaning of her whole name, Amaterasu-ōmikami, is “the great august kami (god) who shines in the heaven”.[N 1] According to mythological stories by the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, the Emperors of Japan are considered to be the direct descendants of Amaterasu.
Susanoo, the powerful storm god of Summer, is the brother of Amaterasu, the goddess of the Sun, and of Tsukuyomi, the god of the Moon. All three were born from Izanagi, when he washed his face clean of the pollutants of Yomi, the underworld. Amaterasu was born when Izanagi washed out his left eye, Tsukuyomi was born from the washing of the right eye, and Susanoo from the washing of the nose. Susanoo used Totsuka-no-Tsurugi as his weapon - from Wikipedia
These brother and sister gods are Tako-e (凧絵, “kite pictures”) – a method that used multiple blocks for separate portions of the image, so a number of colors could achieve incredibly complex and detailed images; a separate block was carved to apply only to the portion of the image designated for a single color. Registration marks called kentō (見当) ensured correspondence between the application of each block - These addition was printed by Donkey Mill Art Center (Hiroki Morinoue)
Toyouke no Omikami is the goddess of agriculture and industry in the Shinto religion. Originally enshrined in the Tanba region of Japan, she was called to reside at Gekū, Ise Shrine, about 1,500 years ago to offer sacred food to Amaterasu Ōmikami, the Sun Goddess.
Mayumi created this art for dedication to new sustainable farm community “Toyouke no Mori”
This is Sumizuri-e, Traditional water base Sumi Ink used on single block. This old method requiring meticulous attention and concentration and it took 30 minuits to print only one print in this over sized Washi Paper. Sumi is made from mainly of soot and animal glue, sometimes with incense or medicinal scents added.
This edition was Hand Printed with Baren by Koko Kawauchi Johnson