Netsuke in Shape of Jurojin and Ofuku 寿老阿福牙彫根付

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

Were they married? Did they have a child? 

This 3 cm tall sculpture is "netsuke in the shape of the Lucky Gods Jurojin and Ofuku" on show at Tokyo National Museum. It's carved from ivory by Chounsai Hidechika. They just look like a happy family, but I've never heard that they were married.  

The label says "Lucky Gods Jurojin and Ofuku," but Ofuku isn't a god (or goddess?). Ofuku, who's also called Okame, is a woman with a round face and a short nose, representing happiness as her name (i.e., Fuku) suggests and a beautiful woman before changing to the symbol of an ugly woman. (The definition of beauty has changed!) In contrast, Jurojin, one of the seven lucky gods, is the god of the elderly and longevity in Japanese Buddhist mythology based on a real person who lived in ancient times. He was about six feet tall with a very long head and a long white beard. 

I couldn't find any information about their marriage or their having a child, but I'm pretty sure that they would have been the happiest couple and the child would have had the best luck!!

If you're interested in the Seven Lucky Gods, read this post. If you want to see other netsuke, read this post, too!

Netsuke in shape of Jurojin and Ofuku 寿老阿福牙彫根付

The child must have the best luck 一番ラッキーな子供でしょ！

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東京国立博物館に展示されていた「寿老阿福牙彫根付」です。長雲斎秀親作です。

寿老人は七福神の一人で長寿を授ける神。宋の実在の老人がモデルで小柄で長頭。お福（お亀）は丸顔で低い鼻の福の象徴。ということはこの子、最強の運の持ち主ってこと？

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