Global Demonology

This portrait depicts Sequoyah (Sikwâyí), the Cherokee polymath who independently created the Cherokee syllabary in the early 19th century. He is shown holding a tablet displaying the characters of his writing system, wearing a traditional turban and a silver medal, symbolizing his intellectual and cultural leadership. This image is a reproduction of an 1828 painting, capturing a pivotal moment in Cherokee literacy and history.

This woodcut diagram, titled 'Diagram of the Jade Pillow' (玉枕之圖), depicts the back of a human head with various points labeled according to traditional Chinese medical and Daoist alchemical traditions. The 'Jade Pillow' refers to a specific area at the base of the skull considered crucial for the circulation of vital energy (qi). This illustration is part of the Sancai Tuhui, a comprehensive Ming dynasty encyclopedia that aimed to categorize all knowledge of the time.

This woodcut depicts Juyongguan, one of the most strategically vital mountain passes of the Great Wall of China during the Ming dynasty. The scene illustrates the challenging terrain with a winding path and a fortified gate, while porters in the foreground provide a sense of scale and human activity in this remote region.

This circular diagram illustrates the correlation between the twelve Earthly Branches, representing time and direction, and the trigrams of the I Ching. It serves as a visual guide for understanding cosmological cycles and their application in internal alchemy (Neidan) practices, common in early modern Chinese esoteric texts.

This portrait depicts Daman Hongren (601–674), the 32nd Patriarch of Zen Buddhism and the 5th Patriarch of the Chan school in China. He is shown in ceremonial robes, including a richly patterned yellow and red kasaya, symbolizing his high spiritual rank and the transmission of the Dharma.

This woodcut depicts Emma Dai-Ō, the Buddhist King of Hell and judge of the dead. He is shown with his characteristic fierce countenance, wearing the traditional cap of a Chinese magistrate, reflecting his role in weighing the karma of souls.

This diagram illustrates a numerical pattern, likely related to the Hetu or Luoshu, which are foundational to Chinese cosmology and divination. The arrangement of dots and characters represents the harmonious order of the universe and its underlying mathematical principles as understood in traditional Chinese science.

This woodcut illustration depicts a scene from a Japanese tale, featuring a woman in an elaborately patterned kimono. In the background, another figure is seen behind a screen, engaged with a book, illustrating the domestic and literary culture of old Japan. The use of bold lines and flat areas of pattern is typical of the ukiyo-e style that influenced Western art in the late 19th century.

This portrait depicts Tahchee, a prominent Cherokee leader also known as Dutch, as captured in an 1834 painting by George Catlin. Tahchee is shown wearing a distinctive turban with a large feather, reflecting the complex cultural exchanges and evolving identities of Native American leaders during the early 19th century. This image was published as part of the Bureau of American Ethnology's Nineteenth Annual Report, serving as a vital record of Indigenous history and representation.