More Netsuke at LACMA #2 - Taking it to the Next Level
So this post is all about regular people who have for whatever reason, taken things to the next level. Each of these characters began life as a regular person and became something more. As always, the all of my LACMA Netsuke images and labels are visible in their Flickr set, also, I’ve started a Flickr group for images of netuske and inro, where you can see all of my netsuke images, and some from other folks as well.
The Netuske
above - Daoist Immortal Riding Hat on Waves - The contextual narrative behind this image is unimaginable to me. Daoist Immortals, referred to as Xian, are often portrayed riding on various beasts. This guy is surfing the waves on a hat. I wasn’t able to find any real reference to anyone riding a hat - maybe the artist just got really loose designing this guy. The carving on him is great, the way he looks straight forward with real intensity, and of course the tiny soul patch gives him total surfer cred. The label is here.
above - Immortal with Toad - You can’t really see it, but I assure you there is a toad hanging out on his shoulder. There were actually two images of Immortals with Toads on display in the netsuke room when I was there, but I only shot one. Some light Googling gives me the impression that this is a depiction of the Xian Liu Hai, who is is traditionally accompanied by an auspicious three-legged toad, which is often shown sitting on his shoulder. Unfortunately, since I can’t see the toad, I can’t really count its legs for confirmation of that, but how many guys with toad companions can there be. Liu Hai is perceived to be a symbol of luck. Label is here.
above - Rakan: Buddhist Disciple of Exceptional Merit - Rakan is the Japanese term for an Arhat, which is one who has become enlightened to such a degree that they will no longer be reincarnated. Label is here.
above - Shoki: The Demon Queller - Shoki appears to fullfill the counterpoint role to the Oni in Japanese mythology. Not as popular as the Oni, however, Shoki’s mythological role (awesome link - lots of historical stuff and images) is to chase them and other demons out. According to the I have no idea what is up with the huge platform sandals - I’ve found a few other depictions of Shoki online, and none of them are rocking those shoes. Usually he seems to be wearing boots of some kind. The label is here.
above - Ikkaku: The One-Horned Immortal - This guy is a bit of a mystery. He’s described as an immortal, which makes me think that he’s a Daoist immortal of some sort, but I’ve only been able to find reference to a One-Horned Immortal in the Noh play Ikkaku Sennin, which describes him both as a Sennin and as a Rishi. A Sennin appears to be somewhat synonymous with a Daoist Immortal, or Xian, but a Rishi appears to be an analogous or separate concept. Regardless, this fellow has obviously gone a bit beyond his normal life through religious practice of some sort. I’m completely unawares as to the nature of the woman he’s carrying on his back, as I don’t think she’s a familiar of some sort, which is what this kind of figure might normally be accompanied by. More likely she’s a participant in a narrative of some sort.
Lately, I’ve become very aware at the huge role that India has had in shaping Japanese belief, through the practice of Buddhism, and I keep coming across references to Hinduism, which has no real adherents in Japan. I’ve also become somewhat aware that a sort of distinctly non Judeo-Christian-Islamic sort of polyreligiosity is common in much of Asia, including Japan, which I find to be a bit of an alien concept. Label is here.
