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Any collectors know of a site I can get a translation of kanji and some insight into what legend, myth or story this carver was trying to portray in this netsuke?

Howard Dennis

Hi Howard,

I do not know what the artist was trying to portray. but perhaps i can help you a bit with the signature, provided that it's Japanese.
I'm using http://jisho.org/#radical from trying to find out signatures on Japanese ceramics, so I think the first character is 宗 (Sö) and the second looks to me 刀 (Katana), maybe. Together: Sokatana ???
But I'm not sure about my interpretation and could not find anything about Sokatana on the internet.
Maybe someone with more experience in Japanese or Chinese knows the correct name.
Regards,
Martin

The characters in the mark bear a resemblance to 宗刀, which would have meanings such as "Ancestral Sword" or "Honorable Sword" (or knife) to a Chinese speaker. I can't give you a conclusive transliteration in Japanese, as I lack formal training in the language.

The creature with the woman on his back fits the description of an oni, and there are some good reference books out there about them and other Japanese myths and legends. Here are some links for starters:

http://www.asianart.com/articles/rubin/

http://library.uoregon.edu/ec/e-asia/read/huish.pdf

Good luck,

Bill H.

Martin & Bill, thanks so much for responding to my post in a positive helpful manner unlike my earlier posts responders. Now thanks to your help I've got hours of learning to look forward to.

Howard Dennis

Sometimes these Christie's links prove problematic, so here it is again in a form you can paste in your browser:

http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/three-ivory-netsuke-19th-century-5073403-details.aspx?

Bill H.

More oni info. Here's a link to a Christies auction of netsuke, which description may help point your research in a beneficial direction. It mentions names of the oni and the woman carried on his back.

Bill H.

Bill, Thanks a million for taking the time to help a fellow collector expand his knowledge of his collection. Now I can research the names and legend behind this neat little carving. This is why I started coming here to begin with. Thanks for restoring my faith.

Gratefully,
Howard Dennis

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