The top-left image is a typical depiction of Chao Fu and his ox from the Muromachi period. Lofty indeed was his moral purity!

During the Tokugawa period, there was a tendency to parody such classical paragons of virtue. This is not to say that nobody in the Tokugawa period cared about virtue--many did, and many would have proudly displayed an image such as this one in their homes.

But there was a distinct shift in the tone and sensibilities of Tokugawa urban culture in the direction of parody and iconoclasm. Furthermore, many Tokugawa urbanites would have regarded someone like Chao Fu as absurdly impractical at best and pompously holier-than-thou at worst. One result was an image like the one below. Move over Chao Fu--You have been replaced by a prostitute!