Ghost Painting – a Midjourney Exploration into the Spirit World of Japan
A breath of the past captured in prompts
It was a pure coincidence that catapulted me into the captivating world of Ghost Painting. There, on Medium, I stumbled upon the articles by Mitsuki Nonaka , who vividly and comprehensively described this genre of art.
Ghost Painting, a relic from Japan’s magical past, weaves a tapestry of literature, regional folklore, and a generous dose of religious belief.
The millennia-old culture of Japan exerts a magnetic pull on me. The symbiosis of tradition and modernity celebrated here is simply awe-inspiring. And then there’s the aesthetics of Japanese art, a minimalist masterpiece for the senses.
So, I dared to venture into the eerie and beautiful spirit world of Japan, allowing Midjourney to prompt some peculiar interpretations onto the canvas.
See for yourselves.
Shadow Beings and Mythical Creatures: A Journey through Japan’s Mysterious Spirit World
In the depths of Japanese tradition lies an endless horde of spirits. They lurk in the corners of legends, stealthily move through myths, and dance in the garb of folklore.
The darkness of ancient folklore holds stories of Yūrei, restless spirits wandering between worlds. Their white robes whisper of forgotten tragedies and unspoken longings.
But there is more. There are the Hitodama, mysterious soul orbs. They float through the darkness like fireflies in the night sky, as if they were a bridge between life and death. Their presence is a puzzle, a mystery waiting to be unraveled.
The Onryō, vengeful spirits born from the fire of unquenched rage, roam the shadows, seeking redemption for their tormented souls.
In the vastness of the ocean, where waves roar, lurk the Funayūrei, the spirits of the sea. Their song echoes of past adventures, telling tales of the ocean’s might.
Kuchisake-onna
also known as the “slit-mouthed woman,” is a spirit of eerie visage. Her face adorned with a slashed mouth, she poses a fateful question to unsuspecting passersby — is she beautiful? The answer determines the fate of the questioned: a horrifying operation to resemble her or the grace of being spared.
Tengu
winged spirits with a blend of human and bird, move between worlds. Sometimes nature spirits, sometimes guardians of mountains and forests, they embody the protective force of nature itself.
Yuki-onna
the icy “Snow Woman,” a deity of icy breath and snow-white garb, breathes life into the wintry wind. Her presence in the snow-covered landscape is as beautiful as it is deadly.
Rokurokubi
women who appear as ordinary as any during the day, reveal their hidden face at night. With extended necks and distorted features, they unveil the dark side of their existence.
The Jibakurei, the earthbound, cling to their beloved places, in a world between here and there. Their presence fills the air with a melancholic aura, reminiscent of bygone times.
Ubume
these delicate spirits, bear a burden of deep sorrow and boundless love. In many depictions, they appear as beings full of compassion, their protective arms embracing their child. Some paintings show them cradling an infant in their arms, an image of unconditional maternal devotion.
In Japanese art, we often find Ubume embedded in a cultural context that celebrates the high esteem for mothers and the sacred significance of birth. These works convey a blend of sorrow, compassion, and profound spiritual belief.
They are a cultural expression of that invisible yet unbreakable spiritual connection that exists between mothers and their children, even beyond the veil of death. In the paintings, it seems as if the heart of this deep relationship pulsates, captured in the brushstrokes of the artists who make the invisible visible.
Ubume — the shadow of a woman who lost her life in the dark moment of childbirth. Often, she returns from eternity to ensure that her flesh and blood are cared for and protected. A bond that not even death can sever.
In the darkness of times past, some artists shine particularly bright:
Toriyama Sekien — A master of shadows and fantasy
Katsushika Hokusai — A painter of storms who also gave space to spirits
Hasegawa Tōhaku — A master of nature who transformed trees into living beings
Tsukioka Yoshitoshi —A chronicler of spirits, between heaven and earth
Sūshi Sawaki A poet of the invisible, who clothed their souls in words
