Daikokuten Vintage Japanese Wood Carving Sculpture Statue 7 Gods Fortune Buddha

Description: Daikokuten Vintage Japanese Wood Carving Sculpture Statue 7 Gods Fortune Shinto 七福神 Lovely large Japanese vintage wood carved Daikokuten (大黒天) one of the 7 gods of Fortune (七(福神, Shichifukujin). The weight to him is impressive and is in lovely condition, with a few scratches to the veneer. Well carved and great quality. Mid Showa period 1950/60's. 54cm x 17cm x 11cm 5kg approx Please check out my other auctions for more vintage, retro and antique Japanese pieces. Daikokuten (大黒天) is a syncretic Japanese deity of fortune and wealth. Daikokuten 大黒天 or Daikoku 大黒 is widely known in Japan as the happy-looking god of wealth, farmers, food, and good fortune, although in earlier centuries he was considered a fierce warrior deity. The oldest extant image of Daikokuten in Japan is dated to the late Heian period (794-1185) and installed at Kanzeonji Temple 観世音寺 (Fukuoka prefecture). The statue depicts the deity with a fierce expression, reminding us of his Hindu origin as a war god, as does the late-Heian sculpture of Daikoku at Kongōrinji Temple 金剛輪寺 (Shiga prefecture), which shows him dressed in armor. However, since the early 14th century, Japanese artwork of this deity starts showing him as a cheerful and pudgy deity wearing a peasant’s hat (called Daikoku-zukin 大黒頭巾) and standing on bales of rice (tawara 俵), carrying a large sack of treasure slung over his shoulder and holding a small magic mallet. There are other forms, including a female form, but in Japan, the god is invariably shown standing on two bales of rice holding his magic mallet and treasure sack. Images, paintings, and other artwork of Daikokuten can be found everywhere in modern Japan, showing him alone, paired with Ebisu (considered his son in many traditions), or grouped with the Seven Lucky Gods. He appears on posters, key chains, mobile-phone accessories, toys for children, and many other commercial goods. Daikoku is also considered a deity of the kitchen and a provider of food, and images of him can still be found in the kitchens of monasteries and private homes. This tradition is thought to have come from India and China, where images of Mahākāla (Daikoku's Sanskrit name) were placed in monastery kitchens to provide for the nourishment of the monks. In Japan, the practice is thought to have been introduced on Mt. Hiei 比叡 in the 9th century by Saichō 最澄 (767-822), the founder of Japan's Tendai sect. Saichō is also credited with introducing a three-headed form of Daikoku known as Sanmen Daikoku. In addition, says the Buddhism (Flammarion Iconographic Guides), “The main pillar of a house in the traditional Japanese style assumes the name of Daikoku-bashira 大黒柱 or ‘pillar of Daikoku,’ meaning ‘pillar of luck and wealth.’” The Seven Gods of Fortune (七福神, Shichi Fukujin), commonly called the Seven Lucky Gods in English, refer to the seven gods of good fortune in Japanese mythology and folklore. They are often the subject of netsuke carvings.Each has a traditional characteristic:Ebisu, god of fishers or merchants, often shown carrying a cod or sea bass.Daikokuten (Daikoku), god of wealth, commerce and trade. Ebisu and Daikokuten are often paired and represented as carvings or masks on the walls of small retail shops.Bishamonten, god of warriors.Benzaiten (Benten-sama), goddess of knowledge, art and beauty, especially music.Fukurokuju, god of happiness, wealth and long life.Hotei, the fat and happy god of abundance and good health.Jurōjin (Gama), god of long life. Many figures in Japanese myth were transmitted from China (some having entered China from India), including all of the Seven Lucky Gods except Ebisu. Another god, Kichijōten, goddess of happiness, is sometimes found depicted along with the seven traditional gods, replacing Jurōjin. The seven gods are often pictured on their ship, the Takarabune (宝船), or "Treasure Ship." The tradition says that the seven gods will arrive in town on the New Year and distribute fantastic gifts to worthy people. Children often receive red envelopes bearing the Takarabune which contain gifts of money around the New Year. The Takarabune and its passengers are often shown in art in different locations, from the walls of museums to cuddly caricatures. # Japan Vintage Retro Netsuke Traditional Oni Tenngu Kimono Samurai Yukata Kawaii anime # Traditional craft sumi ink painting tea ceremony geisha samurai anime Kawaii vintage Retro antique kimono yukata oni tenngu Hannya devil Japan Kyoto Tokyo Tattoo Yakuza ukiyo-e Heian Tokugawa Meiji Showa legend aizome

Price: 175 GBP

Location: Hove

End Time: 2025-01-04T11:42:18.000Z

Shipping Cost: 38.16 GBP