Netsuke "Fukurokuju" (Shoko Nishino) 根付「福禄寿（西野昇己）」

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

This 3 cm tall sculpture is a netsuke of "Fukurokuju," currently on display at the Tokyo National Museum this March. It was carved from wood by Shoko Nishino.

Fukurokuju, one of Japan's Seven Lucky Gods, is the deity of wisdom, luck, longevity, wealth, and happiness. He is instantly recognizable by his elongated head, which is almost as large as his entire body. Fukurokuju is so popular that he has fascinated not only Shoko Nishino but many other netsuke carvers. Check out the posts below to compare different carvings of him!

• Fukurokuju by Ryushi Komada
• Ancestor Fukurokuju by Michael Birch
• Fukurokuju by Seiho Azuma

Another interesting thing is that Shoko Nishino's Fukurokuju (pictured above) and the third listed Fukurokuju by Seiho Azuma look very alike for a reason: the latter is a copy of the former. We can learn a lot through imitation, and Seiho Azuma must have learned something by copying Shoko Nishino's work.

 

A netsuke is a small carved ornament, especially of ivory or wood, worn as part of Japanese traditional dress as a toggle by which an article may be attached to the sash of a kimono (Source: Lexico). If you love netsuke, check out this list to see more than 40 pieces!

"Fukurokuju" by Shoko Nishino, ivory 「福禄寿」西野昇己作 象牙

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東京国立博物館の西野昇己「福禄寿」です。福禄寿は根付作家に人気があるようで、下のような福禄寿も彫られています。

- 「福禄寿」駒田柳之作、象牙
- 「福禄寿」マイケル・バーチ作、鹿角

- 「福禄寿（昇己 写し）」東声方作、黄楊

面白いのが、3つ目の東声方の福禄寿は上の西野昇己の福禄寿の写し。そっくりです。是非比べてみてください。根付にご興味ある方はこちらのリストもどうぞ。40以上の根付を掲載しています！

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