Netsuke in Shape of Exorcism 追儺牙彫根付

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

Have you ever seen a Japanese exorcism? If not, look at this 3 cm tall sculpture. This is netsuke in the shape of an exorcism on show at Tokyo National Museum. It's carved from ivory by Ikkosai.

Japan used to perform exorcisms in the imperial household on New Year's Eve and in other places on Setsubun, i.e., the day before the beginning of spring in the old calendar. The exorcism in the imperial household is no longer performed, while the other one still exists in the form of ritual called "mame maki (soybean throwing)" still performed on Setsubun day in which people throw roasted soybeans out of the front door or at a member of the family wearing an oni (i.e., demon or ogre) mask while shouting "Devils out! Fortune in!" 

So, these are expelled demons or ogres, but they're so cute, and to me, looking like kids scared of getting caught by their moms eating snacks before dinner or men scared to death of getting caught by their wives cheating😁 Oh, so they're all frightened of mothers and wives, i.e., women😂!  

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, see this list to see more than 40 netsuke items!

 Netsuke in shape of exorcism, ivory 追儺牙彫根付

Exorcised demons and ogres 鬼祓いです

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東京国立博物館に展示されていた追儺牙彫根付です。一光斎作です。

追儺（ついな）とは、旧暦大晦日に行われた宮中行事や、民間で節分などに行われる鬼を払う行事のこと。宮中行事の方はもう行われなくなったのですが、民間行事の方はまだ残っています。

でもこの鬼たちって、夕食前におやつ食べたことがばれそうであわてる子供、いや浮気がばれそうでパニクってる男性に見えません？ということはみんな女性に怯えてるんだ😂！

根付にご興味ある方はこちらの根付リストもどうぞ！

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