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Antique
Japanese Carved Okimono
Bishamon
God of Luck /
Shichifukujin
Artist
Signature: Signed, 19th Century
H 4.25 in.(11cm.), W 2.5in.(6.3cm.), D 1.75 in.(4.5cm.)
Condition: Good,
crack line Bishamon
is usually depicted wearing armor, carries a lance in one hand and a pagoda in
the other. Among the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, he is regarded as a God of Wealth.
Japanese legend believes that Bishamon grants good fortune more swiftly than the
flight of an arrow from the bow. Yet interestingly enough he is seldom carved
as a netsuke apart from the group of Seven Gods. However, this is by no mean a
doubt of his popularity. In fact, the origin of Bishamon can be traced back to
the Hindu pantheon. He is one of the 12 Devas (Heavenly Kings) found in the Womb
Mandala in the Esoteric Buddhism. His name in sanskrit is Vaisravana. He is the
guardian of the northern direction. The oldest image of Bishamon can be found
carved on a cliff at Usuki on the island of Kyushu during the Heian period (794-1184).
A two meter height Bishamon wood statue dated 9th century is in the treasure chamber
of the To-Ji in Kyoto. Private Collection |
