Shoki and Demon, Edo period

"Shoki and Demon" from the Edo period exemplifies a Ukiyo-e woodcut that depicts the legendary figure Shoki, known as the demon queller in Japanese folklore. This mythological painting captures the tension between good and evil, featuring Shoki confronting a menacing demon—an embodiment of yōkai, supernatural entities that can be mischievous or malevolent. The bold lines and expressive composition typical of a woodcut emphasize the mythic drama, reflecting cultural beliefs about spirits and the uncanny aspects of natural and human worlds during the Edo period.