Jaki Demons Shore Up Large Bronze Flower Vase for 1873 Vienna World Exposition 頼光大江山入図大花瓶

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Do you know who they are?

Jaki demons 邪鬼

They are also called "akki" 悪鬼

They are jaki demons, demon like creatures in Japanese folklore. And if you've come to Japan and seen the statues of the four heavenly kings in some Buddhist temples, you must have seen them without realizing it because these demons are often trampled by the four kings. And I like them much more than Buddha, kings, gods, or deities.....

Bronze flower vase for 1873 Vienna World Exposition
頼光大江山入図大花瓶

This is a large bronze flower vase made in 1872 by Takashige Yokoyama (father) and Yazaemon Yokoyama (son) for the Vienna World Exposition in 1873, and at its foot, these demons shore up the upper part of this 1.3-meter high superb vase.

But no matter how beautiful the vase is, I can't help but look at not the vase itself but these "kawaii" jaki or akki demons!!

So, if you have a chance to come to Japan (after COVID-19) and see statues of the four heavenly kings, please take a look at these poor jaki demons... Neglected or abused children become violent and maybe this is true of these demons, too.

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頼光大江山入図大花瓶です。横山孝茂・弥左衛門父子によるもので、1873年のウィーン万博に出品されました。大きいけど精巧。日本工芸の素晴らしさを余すところなく体現しています。

ただ、私の眼は、花瓶ではなく、その一番下で踏みつけにされている「邪鬼（悪鬼）」たちにくぎ付け。なぜか、四天王を見るとき、踏みつけられているこの小鬼たちにいつも目が行ってしまいます。だって可愛くありませんか！

「いじめられたからひねくれたのね｡｡｡」と心の中で呟いております。

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