Netsuke "Mermaid" 人魚木彫根付

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

This is a netsuke shaped like a mermaid at the Tokyo National Museum. It's 4 to 5 cm long, carved from wood in the 19th century. The carver is unknown.

I was surprised at this netsuke because it's not what I imagined a mermaid to be. (It doesn't look like the Little Mermaid at all!) I googled and was more surprised that in Japan, The Nihon Shoki (The Chronicles of Japan) referred to mermaids as early as in the 6th century. Japan also has a legendary Buddhist nun who lived to 800 years old by eating the flesh of a mermaid. Wow, the concepts of mermaids significantly vary between countries!   

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 dozens of netsuke items!

Netsuke "Mermaid" 人魚木彫根付

Netsuke "Kappa and Clam" 河童蛤角彫根付

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

This is a netsuke "Kappa and Clam" at the Tokyo National Museum. It's 4 to 5 cm long, carved from ivory in the 19th century. The carver is unknown. 

Size-wise, this netsuke is wrong because the clam is too large or the kappa is too small. Kappa, which are Japanese legendary creatures, are human-like beings except that they're green with webbed hands and feet, a turtle-like carapace on their back, and a dish to contain water on their head. They're said to die if the dish dries or is broken. They're also said to like cucumbers🥒, but this kappa must like clams better than cucumbers... 

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 dozens of netsuke items!

Netsuke "Kappa and Clam"  河童蛤角彫根付

Netsuke "Kappa" 根付「河童」

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

This is a netsuke "Kappa" by Kenji Abe at the Tokyo National Museum. It's about 5 cm tall, carved from ivory and tortoiseshell. 

Kappa are Japanese legendary creatures. They're green (although the netsuke is cream white because it's made from ivory), human-like beings with webbed hands and feet, a turtle-like carapace on their back, and a dish to contain water on their head. They're said to die if the dish dries or is broken and like cucumbers. 

Kappa are the company character of a sake brewery in Kyoto. I planned to go to its restaurant Kappa Country for this summer holiday, but cancelled the trip because of increasing Covid-19 cases😂. 

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 dozens of netsuke items!

Netsuke "Kappa" by Kenji Abe　阿部賢次作「河童」

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

Netsuke in Shape of a Noh Performer with a Hannya Mask 般若牙彫根付

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

"How many will I kill tonight? Three or four?" He looks like saying this, doesn't he? This 3 cm tall sculpture is "netsuke in the shape of a noh performer with a hannya mask" on show at Tokyo National Museum. It's carved from ivory.

The hannya mask, which is used in noh plays, as well as Shinto dances, portrays the souls of women who have become demons due to obsession or jealousy. One of the most famous noh plays using the mask is "Aoi no Ue (Lady Aoi)," in which Lady Aoi or the wife of Genji (i.e., the protagonist of The Tale of Genji), is killed by the wandering spirit of his jealous mistress Lady Rokujo. The noh actor playing the mistress wears the hannya mask to show her strong jealousy. So, the figure in these photos isn't a man but may be the mistress going to kill her lover's wife😱

Interestingly, however, "hannya" or "prajñā" in Sanskrit, which is a Buddhist term, means just wisdom and has nothing to do with jealousy. I googled why the noh mask has the Buddhist term meaning wisdom as its name, but couldn't find a reasonable explanation. 

If you love netsuke, read this post to see dozens of netsuke!!  

Netsuke in shape of a noh performer with a hannya mask 般若牙彫根付

Netsuke in Shape of a Heart-Polishing Figure 心磨牙彫根付

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

What do you think they're doing? Are they wiping the floor with a cloth? NOOOO! They're polishing their HEARTS! This is a 3 cm tall sculpture or "netsuke in the shape of a heart-polishing figure" on show at Tokyo National Museum. It's carved from ivory by Tomochika.

But to me, they look like wiping the floor. And speaking of wiping the floor, my paternal granddad often did that. It was natural for him to share household chores with his wife (i.e., my grandma). They ran a family business and Grandma worked from nine to five while raising three children and doing housework. And that's why he was cleaning the floor also when my mom visited his house for the first time. The thing was that because my mom had lost her dad when she was a teenager, has only three sisters, and went to junior and senior high schools and a college all of which were exclusively for women, just talking to a man made her nervous, and seeing a man wiping the floor shocked her😲! 

So, it's understandable that right after their marriage, she said to her husband (i.e., my dad) participating in household work without a single doubt, "Household chores aren't a male responsibility." Haha!😆

Many years have passed since then. My parents have been fighting over household chores in recent years. My mom believes that when he retired, she should've been able to also retire from her work, i.e., household chores, but she couldn't. So, again it's very understandable that I, who've heard this from her since my childhood, have never stopped my husband from cleaning, cooking, dishwashing or whatever (although he doesn't cook...). I want him to polish not only the floor but also his heart to do more chores😆. (Or should I polish my heart....?😁)

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 dozens of netsuke items!

Netsuke in shape of a heart-polishing figure 心磨牙彫根付

Netsuke in Shape of Lucky God Daikoku 大黒牙彫根付

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

This 3 cm sculpture is netsuke in the shape of the Lucky God Daikoku on show at Tokyo National Museum. It's carved from ivory by someone whose name I can't read, but which suggests that he'd carved netsuke for 73 years. So, someone trained for something for 73 years can create such a cute thing that makes people happy!! I love his smile and dancing.

The Lucky God Daikoku or Daikokuten is the god of commerce and prosperity and the patron of cooks, farmers, bankers, and the protector of crops. He's also a demon hunter, and one of the Seven Lucky Gods, who interestingly include gods from Japan, China and India. (Daikokuten himself is Indian!) At least when the Seven Lucky Gods existed😇 or were believed to exist, Japan was diverse! (See this post for the Seven Lucky Gods!)

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 Lucky God Daikoku 大黒牙彫根付

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

Netsuke "Yagyo-san (Ogre)" 根付「夜行さん」

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

This 3 cm tall sculpture is netsuke "Yagyo-san" on show at Tokyo National Museum. It was made from boxwood, tagua nut and coral by Yoji Yamada.

Yagyo-san is an ogre or demon in Japanese folklore. They wander on the back of a headless horse at night on certain days (e.g., New Year's Eve and the day before the beginning of spring in the old Japanese calendar), throwing people who happen to see him. But to me, he just looks like a primitive man with a long beard!! And so cute!! 

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 dozens of 40 netsuke items!

Netsuke "Yagyo-san" by Yoji Yamada 「夜行さん」山田洋治

Netsuke "Humpty Dumpty" 根付「ハンプティ・ダンプティ」

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

This 3 cm long porcelain is netsuke "Humpty Dumpty" on show at Tokyo National Museum, made by Lynn Richardson.

I didn't understand why this Humpty Dumpty netsuke was broken into three parts until reading the nursery rhyme below. I knew about Humpty and Dumpty but had thought that Lewis Carroll created the character for "Alice Through the Looking-Glass."

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king's horses and all the king's men
Couldn't put Humpty together again.

We don't understand the real meaning of something without the background information, and that's why I enjoy writing for this blog, which makes me do research on not only Humpty Dumpty but also flowers and bugs, deepening my understanding of things around me.

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 dozens of netsuke items!

Netsuke "Humpty Dumpty" 根付「ハンプティ・ダンプティ」

Netsuke in Shape of Clustered Masks 面寄牙彫根付

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

This 3 cm long sculpture is netsuke in the shape of clustered masks on show at Tokyo National Museum this March. It was carved by Jugyoku from ivory and is so colorful and cute!

The green mask represents an oni or a kind of ogre in Japanese folklore and the white one Okame (or Otafuku), i.e., an always smiling Japanese woman who brings happiness. I'm pretty sure of these, but about the orange one, I have no idea and couldn't find any information.

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 clustered masks by Jugyoku from ivory 面寄牙彫根付 寿玉作 象牙

Netsuke "Daoist Immortal and Child" 根付「仙人と唐子」

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

This 4 cm boxwood sculpture is netsuke "Sennin and Karako (meaning 'Daoist immortal and child')" carved by Seiho Azuma. It was on show this March at Tokyo National Museum. 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). 

Daoist immortals have attained immortality through Daoist practice and I'm not irrelevant to them. First, I'm a great fan of Fukurokuju, one such Daoist immortal and the god of wisdom, luck, longevity, wealth and happiness in Japan. He's characterized by the size of his head almost as large as the size of his whole body. I like him so much that I've written about several netsuke of Fukurokuju. If you're interested in Fukurokuju netsuke, read this post. 

Secondly, I like sweet autumn clematis or "Daoist immortal plant" in Japanese because of its fluffy achene, looking like the beard of Daoist immortals. I also wrote about the flower a few days ago.  

Thirdly, I'm also a great fan of Japanese writer Ryunosuke Akutagawa (1892 - 1927), who must have liked Daoist immortals so much that he wrote two short stories both entitled "Daoist immortal." Ryunosuke Akutagawa killed himself at the age of 35 but is regarded as the "father of the Japanese short story." The Akutagawa Prize, i.e., Japan's premier literary award, is named after him. It's so sad and ironic that someone who's interested in immortal persons so much killed himself that young. 

 

If you love netsuke, see this list to see more than 40 netsuke!

"Daoist immortal and child" by Seiho Azuma, boxwood「仙人と唐子」東声方作 黄楊

Netsuke "Ladybird on Sweet Pepper" 根付「ピーマンにてんとう虫」

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

This 4 cm ivory sculpture is netsuke "Ladybird on sweet pepper" at Tokyo National Museum. It was carved by Seiho Azuma from ivory. 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). 

This netsuke sweet pepper is white, but imagine a green pepper with a red ladybug with black spots on its back! It must be so colorful🌶🐞 and beautiful! If you love netsuke, see this list to see more than 40 netsuke items!

"Ladybird on sweet pepper," Seiho Azuma, ivory 「ピーマンにてんとう虫」東声方 象牙

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

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

This 3 cm tall sculpture is netsuke "Fukurokuju" on show at Tokyo National Museum this March. It was carved by Shoko Nishino from wood.

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

Fukurokuju, one of the seven lucky gods in Japan, is the god of wisdom, luck, longevity, wealth and happiness, and characterized by the size of his head almost as large as the size of his whole body. Fukurokuju is so popular that it interested not only Shoko Nishino, but other netsuke carvers. See the following posts to compare various Fukurokuju:

- "Fukurokuju" by Ryushi Komada
- "Ancestor Fukurokuju" by Michael Birch

- "Fukurokuju" by Seiho Azuma

Another interesting thing is that Shoko Nishino's Fukurokuju (above photo) 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 many things through imitation. Seiho Azuma must also have learned something through copying Shoko Nishino's Fukurokuju...

 

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!

(If you wish to post your comment but don't have a Google account, select "anonymous" from the drop down menu titled "comment as"!)

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！

(Google アカウントを持ってない方は、コメント記入後に「Google アカウント」をクリックし、「匿名」か「名前/URL」を選択してからご記入ください！)

Netsuke "Octopus Trap" 蛸壺牙彫根付

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

This 4 cm sculpture is netsuke in the shape of an octopus trap on show at Tokyo National Museum this March. It was carved by Mitsuhiro from ivory in the 19th century. The funny face of the octopus is so cute, isn't it🐙?

An octopus trap is used for octopus fishing, and another Japanese term related to an octopus is "tako beya," which literally means "octopus room." 

"Tako beya" or "octopus room" is a harsh work system beginning in the Meiji period (1868-1912) under which the workers were forced to labor in construction sites or coal mines without enough meals, sleeping in accommodation huts called "tako beya (octopus room)" because the laborers couldn't escape from the labor camps like octopuses from such traps. The forced labor and labor camps are currently banned by the Labor Standard Act although instead Japan is now seeing increasing "black companies," i.e., companies that hire many employees, mainly contract workers or part-timers, to force them to work a significant amount of overtime without pay by threatening or harassing them.

Putting aside the sad and shameful history and the current social economic issue in Japan, however, Japanese people love octopuses not only as a sushi topping but also as a theme of art like this octopus netsuke.

If you like netsuke, read this post to see more than 40 netsuke!! 

 

"Octopus trap," Mitsuhiro, ivory「蛸壺牙彫根付」光弘 象牙

Netsuke "Silk Ball" 根付「手鞠」

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

This colorful ball with a diameter of 3 cm is netsuke "Silk Ball" on show at Tokyo National Museum this March. It was made by netsuke artist Kinuyo Hariya from boxwood with maki-e (i.e., lacquer) painting.

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), and maki-e is a Japanese form of (especially gold or silver) lacquer or lacquerware (Source: Lexico). I've seen many netsuke sculptures, and boxes, combs, and natsume (i.e., green tea powder containers used in tea ceremonies) with maki-e painting, but I've never seen netsuke with such colorful maki-e painting.

"Silk ball" or in Japanese "temari (meaning 'hand ball')" is Japanese craft, originating in China and introduced to Japan around the 7th century. This temari netsuke is 3 cm, but temari is usually 10-15 cm in diameter, made from silk embroidery and currently used for room decoration. 

If you love netsuke, click here to see more than 40 netsuke items! 

"Silk Ball," Kinuyo Hariya, boxwood and maki-e「手毬」針谷絹代 黄楊＆蒔絵 

Netsuke "Penguin Mother and Baby" 根付「ペンギン」

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

This 4 cm sculpture is netsuke "Penguin Mother and Young" on show at Tokyo National Museum this March. It was carved by Sawako Yorikane from ivory. 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)

It's been so hot and humid recently in Japan. The temperature for the last couple of days has been over 35°C (86°F) in Tokyo. And that's just an air temperature. With humidity of 70%, the apparent temperature is over 40°C (104°F), which makes me feel sometimes suffocated while walking even in early morning. 

That's why I've chosen this netsuke today. Do you feel cool? Or does the mother and baby netsuke makes you feel warm😊? If you love netsuke, go to A List of Netsuke to see 40 netsuke items!

"Penguin Mother and Young," Sawako Yorikane, ivory「ペンギン」寄金佐和子 象牙

Netsuke "Ghost With Flowing" 根付「髪の長い幽霊」

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

This 10 cm sculpture is netsuke "Ghost with flowing" on show at Tokyo National Museum this March. It was made by Michael Birch from ivory and rhinoceros horn. 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)

In Japan, ghosts are believed to be dead people who can't go to either heaven or hell because of strong anger and grudges against someone, wandering around to curse the person to death. Japanese people strongly believed such ghost's power, and Michizane Sugawara (845 - 903) is one such example. Michizane was a Japanese scholar, poet, and politician in the Heian Period, accused of favoring some prince over the crown prince as the main successor to the emperor's throne, resulting in being demoted to a minor official post in a remote place, where he and his entire family were banished, dying in exile. 

Michizane's anger is said to have been so strong that after his death, plagues and droughts took place and his political enemies died one after another. You can see how strong and deep his anger was by seeing the noh mask "Ootobide." 

And this made me think who I would be that angry with and realize that if I were infected with Covid-19, got seriously ill, but weren't able to be treated in hospital, ending up dying, I would be a ghost to scare (not curse) to death politicians who haven't done anything (in Japan, politicians usually don't make decisions or do anything) and their supporters who complain but don't do anything either to change the status quo. 

You may wonder why I'm so worried that I can't be treated in hospital even though Japan has much fewer Covid infections (i.e., 3,177 new positive cases on July 28), but you should know that Japanese healthcare system has already collapsed because of a drastic reduction of hospital beds in recent years, so currently many patients are just abandoned at home without receiving any treatment.    

If you love netsuke, read the posts listed under the photos!

"Ghost with flowing," Michael Birch「髪の長い幽霊」マイケル・バーチ

Netsuke "Favorite Food" 根付「好物」

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

This 4 cm wooden sculpture is netsuke "Favorite Food" on show at Tokyo National Museum this March. It was carved by Seiho Azuma from boxwood. 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) 

So here is my question. What are these monkeys, especially baby monkeys, wanting? I don't see bananas or any other food around the monkeys... 

I have no favorite food, but I've been wanting to eat out at sushi, soba, or yakitori restaurant with good sake or wine without worrying about who cooks or dishwashes, or COVID-19.... The number of positive cases in Tokyo has hit a record high of 2,848 on July 27, and that number is much smaller than other countries but the healthcare system has already collapsed in Japan, resulting in many lying on bed at home without receiving any treatment. Abandoning many COVID patients while Olympic Games are being held as if nothing were happening is surrealistically nightmarish.     

If you love netsuke, read the posts listed under the photos!

"Favorite food," Seiho Azuma, boxwood 「好物」東声方 黄楊

Netsuke "Hibernation" 根付「冬眠」

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

This 3 cm sculpture is netsuke "Hibernation" on show at Tokyo National Museum this March. It was carved by Godo Abe from stag antler.

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)

This netsuke consists of two skulls, i.e., one is ordinary while the other is upside down in which a brain can be seen. Does this mean the brain is taking a rest like animals in hibernation? I thought about this for a while, but didn't find the answer. I want to ask the sculptor what this upside-down skull means...   

If you love netsuke, read the posts listed under the photos!

"Hibernation," Godo Abe, stag antler 「冬眠」阿部悟堂 鹿角