Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries

Hi!

I just purchased this Japanese kakejiku depicting Jurojin, with an extremely large head. The seal is unusual, and I was wondering if anyone can help decipher it? Many thanks in advance if you can help!

The seal reads 'Chûhô' and refers to the Zen artist Shogetsu Chuho So-u (宙宝宗宇, 1759-1838).

I can't state if this is an original or a copy by a student based upon an original.

Guy.

Thank you so much Guy!

Btw, the seal is in the shape of a little jar (kotsubo).

Guy.

Thanks Guy! I always thought that this shape was supposed to be a Censer! Is there any significance behind this shape, for a seal? I have some other scrolls with this shape seal!

So can you translate any signature/seal Guy?

Hello,
the seal is giving a chinese tripod, used as ritual food vessels in the beginning (shang,xia dynasty). In Japanese painting seals in this shape have a long tradition. Especially in the early Kano school painting its a very often used shape. But I have seen older examples from 14th century as well.
The scroll is depicting Fukurokuju not Jurojin. The shape of the head and the handscroll make this certain.
Best wishes, peter

I think that Peter gives us the conclusive answer about the seal. So, no 'tusbo' or 'kotsubo' as I suggested.

Guy.

I can't read the signature which is written in cursive hiragana.
The jar-shaped seal was popular in the 18th century. In the case of this scroll, I have the idea that the 'kotsubo' seal ('ko' = smal; 'tsubo' = jar) may refer to the Japanese tea ceremony (The Way of Tea). Both the hanging scroll and the 'kotsubo' are indispensable components of that tea ceremony, cultivated by Chuho Sou as a major Zen artist.

Guy.

Wow, that is really interesting! Thank you so much Peter an Guy! And, Peter, thanks for letting me know that it is actually Fukurokuju, wikipedia says -

'Jurōjin is often identified with Fukurokuju, another of the Several Gods of Fortune. In some accounts, the two are said to inhabit the same body. As such, the two are often confused'

Haha, I must research exactly how to identify each properly!

I had a look through some of my scrolls this weekend, and I did find three others with this 'Kotsubu' shaped seal.

The first photo is seal and signature from a scroll of (I think!) Jurojin, by Kano Tsunenobu. The second photo is the seal from an old one of three Horses by Kano Yasunobu, and then I found a third, which is a poem with two Cranes in a Pine Tree with the Rising Sun painted below. I think the poem and painting are done by two separate artists, as they have different signatures and seals. I haven't got a clue who either artist is, but the painting is signed with the 'Kotsubo' seal.

Thanks again so much!

I should have said 'Chinese tripod' shaped seal in last post, as Peter you are correct. I had a look on google and there are some great images of Chinese Tripods.

this is MORINOBU KANO.the inside of jar is written "MORI".盛. But I do not know when he was bone. I have same one.

Just to confirm, the first picture above is Kano Tsunenobu's signature. He uses the same symbol on his woodblock prints.

Cheers,
Stan

Thanks Stan! I thought it was...the woodblock prints are just beautiful!

Asianart.com | Associations | Articles | Exhibitions | Galleries |