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Subject:Re: Okimono Signature
Posted By: RENATO Wed, Jul 16, 2025
Dear Victor Martinez,
My japanese is broken, I am just an african-brazilian pupil of this beautful language. And I came across the inscription on the okimono featuring what I imagine eight animals — and I’m finding its meaning quite elusive.
The animal motifs align with Shintō and folk traditions, where creatures often act as divine messengers, symbols of natural forces, or embodiments of virtues. That said, my interpretation remains provisional.
The inscription seems to read:
First column: 「自八彡天」 → Jihachi‑santen
Second column: 「タテト」 → Tate‑to
This combination strikes me as unusual. It may not be literal, but rather an emblematic invocation or ritual formula, perhaps intended for protection. Could it reference something like the “Eight Mysteries of Heaven” or “Eight Angels of Heaven” (八天)? Or even, yaoyorozu-no-kami (eight million deities), 自天 (Ji Ten): From the I Ching phrase "blessings from heaven" which means "Eight spirits receiving celestial light"?
There were also a Kyushu-based artisan clans know by the name Tateto (立戸) from Meiji-era, but it seams unlikely.
I could easily have misread one of the characters — this is just a tentative starting point. Please, identify every single animal and look at for meanings using what I broght...Maybe a change here and there and you can get what you want.
Thank you for post it.
Best regards,
Renato
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