SHOKI - THE DEMON SLAYER
Zhongkui or Chung Kuei = Chinese Name

Below text from Minneapolis Institute of Art
(courtesy www-artsmia.org-mythology-slide24.html)

According to Japanese folklore, the spirit of the physician Shoki is able to scare away demons. Families with male children even today hang images of Shoki outside their houses to ward off evil spirits during the Boys' Day festival (Tango no Sekku, May 5 each year, but now a festival for all children).

Who is Shoki ?
During the early T'ang Dynasty, Shoki was a physician in the province of Shensi, China. He was considered very ugly. Hoping to advance his career, he took the examinations required to enter government service. Although he performed brilliantly, Shoki's dreams of advancement were shattered. Some say Shoki was cruelly cheated out of first place. Others say he was awarded first place by the examiners, who praised his work, saying it was equal to that of the wisest ancients. But when Shoki was presented to the court, the emperor rejected him because he was so ugly.

In shame, Shoki took his own life on the steps of the imperial palace, right in front of the emperor. Overcome with remorse, the emperor ordered that Shoki be buried with the highest honors, wrapped in a green robe usually reserved for members of the imperial clan. In gratitude, Shoki's spirit vowed to protect any ruler against the evil of demons.

The popular story of Shoki was adopted from China, where he was known as Chung Kuei. During the Edo Period in Japan (1600-1868), families began to hang banners depicting Shoki inside and outside of their houses during the Boys' Day festival. Boys' Day is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar year. According to ancient tradition, this is a day when evil spirits and bad luck abounds. Images of Shoki ward off danger from the homes of families with male children.

Shoki the Demon Slayer - Print by Yoshitoshi
Courtesy of Ukiyo-e Museum - Nagoya TV Server
http://nagoyatv.com/ukiyoe/yoshi/horror2.html


Artist Sesson Shukei (1504-1589)
Photo Courtesy Kyoto National Museum
http://www.kyohaku.go.jp/indexe.htm