He-gassen | |
---|---|
Japanese: 屁合戦 | |
Artist | Unknown artist |
Year | Edo period |
Dimensions | 29.6 cm × 1003.1 cm (11.7 in × 394.9 in) |
This article may be
confusing or unclear to readers. In particular, is this about a single scroll or a subject of Japanese art?. (May 2024) |
He-gassen ( Japanese: 屁合戦, lit. 'Fart competitions'), or Houhi-gassen (放屁合戦, lit. 'Fart fight'), are titles given to a Japanese art scroll, [1] created during the Edo period (1603–1868) by an unknown artist or several unknown artists [2] [3] [4] depicting flatulence humor.
He-gassen is a subject occasionally depicted in Japanese art, first attested at the end of the Heian Period (794–1185). Toba Sōjō (1053–1140), in addition to his famous Scrolls of Frolicking Animals, is also mentioned as having painted scrolls on themes such as " Phallic Contest" and "He-gassen." [5] [6]
One scroll in the possession of the Waseda University Library has been digitized. [7] The Waseda University scroll ends on the far left with a colophon, stating that this is a 1846 work by a 69 year old Fukuyama painter called Airan (福山 画師 六十九歳 相覧, Fukuyama eshi roku jū kyū-sai Airan), being a copy of a 1680 original painted by Hishikawa Moronobu. The artist is possibly Murakata Airan (1778–c.1846).[ citation needed]
The scroll begins at the far right, with a scene of men of various ranks (the lacquered black caps indicate court ranks, the others are commoners) spreading news of a fart contest, scenes of men passing along the news and carrying baskets of taro, and a cooking scene where the food is being prepared and eaten.