Tenmei era (1781–1789) Donated by Saitō Shōji
These dolls illustrate the tale of Shuten-dōji, the demon king of Mount Ōe in Kyoto prefecture. Set during the mid-Heian period (794–1185), a time of social unrest, the legend tells the story of how the military commander Minamoto no Yorimitsu and his four legendary lieutenants disguised themselves as mountain priests to slay the demon king, because he was found to be responsible for kidnapping and devouring many young women in Kyoto. Eventually, the warriors sliced off the demon king’s head and delivered it to the emperor in Kyoto.