This ivory netsuke depicts a scene that is experienced daily in Buddhist temples throughout Eastern Asia: a monk steadily beating a mokugyo. This ivory netsuke features a monk with the distinctive enlarged head and the elongated ear lobes that often seen on the Taoist sages and immortals, (the sennin or xian). The monk's full belly is rounded and exposed through a loose decorative kimono etched with multiple design motifs. His face is plump and fully expressed and the soles of his feet are detailed. He plays the Mokugyo, the traditional ritual instrument that produces the steady knock on wood that is an integral part of Buddhist practice throughout China, Japan and Korea. Mahayana Buddhist practitioners use this percussion instrument to remember sutra. In the Zen/Chan tradition a knock on the mokugyo signals the beginning and end of the meditation session.

This early 20th century unsigned netsuke has a small crack line but is otherwise in very good condition. (SD)