Lot details By Tanaka Juntoku Minko (1735-1816), signed Minko with kakihan Japan, Tsu, late 18th to early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) The dragon witch typically winding around the bell of Dojoji, her head at the side and the removable handle turning to show either the face of the priest Anchin or red flames within. Kiyohime’s eyes are inlaid and the tongue is highlighted in gold. The underside with two large asymmetrical himotoshi and the signature MINKO with kakihan. HEIGHT 4.6 cm Condition: Good condition with some wear, minor age cracks, few small nicks. Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection, Paris. Tanaka Juntoko Minko (1735-1816) was one of the few names mentioned in the Soken Kisho of 1781, the first publication mentioning netsuke. He was famous during his lifetime and is widely regarded as one of the greatest netsuke carvers. This was one of the most popular subjects of the “Tsu” school founded by Minko. The tale of Anchin and Kiyohime forms the basis of a collection of plays termed Dojoji mono (Dojo-ji Temple plays), depicting an event some years after the temple bell was destroyed. These plays include the Noh play Dojoji and the Kabuki dance drama Musume Dojoji. The legend, connected with the founding of the Dojo-ji temple in Kii Province (modern-day Wakayama Prefecture), relates how a priest named Anchin from Shirakawa in Oshu province making pilgrimage to the Kumano Shrine lodged at the home of a shoji (steward of a shoen manor) of Manago/Masago, where the manor official’s daughter Kiyohime fell in love with the young monk. In order to avoid her, he deceived her with a false promise to return and continued his journey. Kiyohime became furious by his rejection and pursued him in rage. At the edge of the Hidaka River, Anchin asked a ferryman to help him to cross the river, but told him not to let her cross with his boat. When Kiyohime saw that Anchin was escaping her, she jumped into the river and started to swim after him. While swimming in the torrent of the Hidaka river, she transformed into a serpent or dragon because of her rage. When Anchin saw her coming after him in her monstrous new form, he ran into the temple called Dojo-ji. He asked the priests for help and they hid him under the bonsho bell of the temple. However, the serpent smelled him hiding inside the bell and started to coil around it. She banged the bell loudly several times with her tail, then gave a great belch of fire so powerful that it melted the bell and killed Anchin. Literature comparison: Compare two closely related wood netsuke by Minko, both with a similar revolving mechanism as the present lot, illustrated in Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part A, p. 510 and 511.
Lot details By Tanaka Juntoku Minko (1735-1816), signed Minko with kakihan Japan, Tsu, late 18th to early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868) The dragon witch typically winding around the bell of Dojoji, her head at the side and the removable handle turning to show either the face of the priest Anchin or red flames within. Kiyohime’s eyes are inlaid and the tongue is highlighted in gold. The underside with two large asymmetrical himotoshi and the signature MINKO with kakihan. HEIGHT 4.6 cm Condition: Good condition with some wear, minor age cracks, few small nicks. Provenance: The Gabor Wilhelm Collection, Paris. Tanaka Juntoko Minko (1735-1816) was one of the few names mentioned in the Soken Kisho of 1781, the first publication mentioning netsuke. He was famous during his lifetime and is widely regarded as one of the greatest netsuke carvers. This was one of the most popular subjects of the “Tsu” school founded by Minko. The tale of Anchin and Kiyohime forms the basis of a collection of plays termed Dojoji mono (Dojo-ji Temple plays), depicting an event some years after the temple bell was destroyed. These plays include the Noh play Dojoji and the Kabuki dance drama Musume Dojoji. The legend, connected with the founding of the Dojo-ji temple in Kii Province (modern-day Wakayama Prefecture), relates how a priest named Anchin from Shirakawa in Oshu province making pilgrimage to the Kumano Shrine lodged at the home of a shoji (steward of a shoen manor) of Manago/Masago, where the manor official’s daughter Kiyohime fell in love with the young monk. In order to avoid her, he deceived her with a false promise to return and continued his journey. Kiyohime became furious by his rejection and pursued him in rage. At the edge of the Hidaka River, Anchin asked a ferryman to help him to cross the river, but told him not to let her cross with his boat. When Kiyohime saw that Anchin was escaping her, she jumped into the river and started to swim after him. While swimming in the torrent of the Hidaka river, she transformed into a serpent or dragon because of her rage. When Anchin saw her coming after him in her monstrous new form, he ran into the temple called Dojo-ji. He asked the priests for help and they hid him under the bonsho bell of the temple. However, the serpent smelled him hiding inside the bell and started to coil around it. She banged the bell loudly several times with her tail, then gave a great belch of fire so powerful that it melted the bell and killed Anchin. Literature comparison: Compare two closely related wood netsuke by Minko, both with a similar revolving mechanism as the present lot, illustrated in Meinertzhagen, Frederick / Lazarnick, George (1986) MCI, Part A, p. 510 and 511.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
