Wave Crest and the Moon (Translation)
浪花白兔 竹內栖鳳 絹本著色 二重箱 (Primary Title)
Takeuchi Seihō 竹內栖鳳, Japanese, 1864 - 1942 (Artist)
Kyoto-based Takeuchi Seihō depicts a close-up view of a seascape and moon, referencing the White Rabbit of Inaba myth recorded in an 8th-century Japanese chronicle. Although not shown in this painting, the myth tells of a white rabbit (hakuto) from the ancient province of Inaba that was trapped on an island. To free himself, the rabbit deceived sharks into lining up as a bridge for him to walk across to the shore. The moment before he landed, a shark ripped off the rabbit’s skin. With the help of a Shinto deity, the rabbit was healed and became a Shinto deity himself, enshrined in the Hakuto Shrine on the shore, 140 miles north of Kyoto.
Some object records are not complete and do not reflect VMFA's full and current knowledge. VMFA makes routine updates as records are reviewed and enhanced.