Kinko
is a Daoist sage known as Sennin in Japanese. According to Chinese legend, once
a sennin has realized ther way of Dao, they can live to a thousand years of age,
and remain youthful in appreance like children. Kinko was an artist who painted
fish but would neither eat or harm them. For reason of his virtue, the Dragon
King sent forth a giant carp and invited Kinko to visit his palace in the sea
world. As depicted in this netsuke, during the return from his sojourn, riding
on his attribute of a carp Kinko Sennin meets Kannon, the scroll he hands to Bodhisattva
of Great Compassion illustrate the Buddhist principle of protecting the lives
of all livings, and the merrit of Kinko Sennin has reached the divine.
This
well carved small netsuke is from a quality piece of ivory. The netsuke is lightly
stained and has a charming tea color. It is in excellent condition with no defect.
The signature Yoshitama is incised on the base. Like many unrecorded carvers,
Yoshitama is a little known netsukeshi, who likely worked during the Meiji Restoration
era when large numbers of netsuke were produced for the European demands.
