Menuki Subject Interpretation Please

[hddennis]

Just acquired some menuki made into cufflinks. I'm trying to figure out what is on top of the Shishi. The shakudo figure puzzles me. Is it a kanji, bonji, meaning?

 

Howard Dennis

[nagamaki - Franco]

Just acquired some menuki made into cufflinks. I'm trying to figure out what is on top of the Shishi.

Howard Dennis

 

Shishi? Shishi with thumbs and primate hind feet? Puzzled, too.

[leo]

While the other two are of more traditional shape, this one is really funny!

 

It has a hairy apelike body, bangles on hands and feet, a shishi head and a kind of saddle.

 

Maybe something from an early carnival or freak show?

 

:beer:  Martin

[paulb]

Hi Martin

I think this is a demon rather than Shishi. Doesnt help with what's on top of him but if you look for images of demons you might find your answer.

regards

Paul

[Guido]

This seems to be an oni 鬼 that is pinned down by the bonji 梵字 "bei" (which stands for north [kita 北]). I've seen something similar before, but can't recall where. But I also could be totally off, who knows .

[Ford Hallam]

It's a stylised Siddham character,. (middle, bottom row.) They're known as Bonji in Japanese.

Sanskrit is written in this Siddham alphabet and single characters can represet various dieties, prayers or sutras.

This one is read as 'Vai' and represents Vaiśravana (in Sanskrit) and known as Bishamonten in Japan. He's one of the 12 'Guardian Kings' ( or 4, depending on which sect you follow) originating in Indian Buddhism. In Japan he's regarded as the 'God of War'

 

[Ian]

Amanojaku maybe

 

 

[Soshin]

Hi Howard,

 

In some sects of Buddhism Bishamonten is one of the four heavenly kings (I.e. gods) and is associated with the northern direction as well as war. He along with the three other kings are associated with and are the attendants for Kannon Butatsu. He like all the other heavenly kings has his own associated Bonji character that is the seed syllable of his mantra.

[hddennis]

Thanks fellows, I really appreciate the help. Once again this proves what I've always thought as I study any of my latest finds for my  collection. I seem to get frustrated whenever I can't figure out what the artist is trying to portray. Others not familiar with oriental art tell me I'm reading too much into it but my belief has always been in oriental art nothing is shown without a meaning or purpose. I seemed to fail to follow my own beliefs on this one as I completely missed the hands and feet on the creature and just went with something familiar and assumed it was a Shishi .

 

Howard Dennis

[hddennis]

While I have you all in a menuki interpretation mode, what do these depict? Other than fish that is, special meal or occasion?

 

Howard Dennis

[nagamaki - Franco]

Hi,

 

Depicts Lotus plant (leaves, seed pod, closed blossom) in addition to Koi.

 

Also, thanks to all others here for your generous input sharing.

 

 

 

 

[Guido]

I have to correct myself, the Japanese reading isn't only "bei" but "beishiramana" and stands for Bishamonten as Ford pointed out.