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Antique
Japanese Carved Okimono
Daikoku
God of Luck /
Shichifukujin
Artist
Signature: Signed, 19th Century
H 4. in.(10cm.), W 2.5in.(6.3cm.), D 1.75 in.(4.5cm.)
Condition: Crack
line, restoration The
name Daikoku may read in two different ways according to the kanji (Chinese characters)
used. It may mean "Great Black", which is the Black bodied Hindu deity Mahakala,
a three faces and six arms wrathful guardian, who is also worshipped in the Buddhist
faith. However, by the 8th century in China, he was depicted as a gentle deity,
and later was introduced to Japan around the 15th century. For that reason the
Chinese characters Daikoku are the same as the Japanese symbols for Okuni, the
Shinto God of Agriculture. The two deities and their characteristics became intermingled
through time. Consequently, Daikoku began to appear with a mallet and rice bales,
symbols of bountiful harvest. He is also often seen accompanied with a rat. Such
associations simply may be because of Daikoku's festival occurs on the Day of
the Rat in Japan.
*Please note that
the mallet has been broken and restored. Private Collection |
