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.
