kozuka with deer depiction

[jamesicus]

What is the significance of this deer lying down and looking back over its shoulder at the moon? What is the design element abutting it's rear?

 

 

James

[Lance]

I think the deer (Sika) is lying down in marsh grass. The use of deer and moon was a popular theme associated with autumn, and inspired many artists and poets.

below is a link to a beautiful old scroll with poems about the moon depicting deer:

 

http://www.seattleartmuseum.org/exhibit ... m_deer.htm

 

Check out link below if you want to see a really great kozuka with deer and moon;

http://educators.mfa.org/objects/detail ... ano+Natsuo

 

Regards,

Lance

[jamesicus]

I think the deer (Sika) is lying down in marsh grass. The use of deer and moon was a popular theme associated with autumn, and inspired many artists and poets.

below is a link to a beautiful old scroll with poems about the moon depicting deer .........

Thank you for your thoughtful and comprehensive reply, Lance - I appreciate it very much. I do not remember encountering that association when I lived in Japan, or I did not pursue a reference which is most likely for, much to my everlasting regret, I did not study enough the Japanese love of nature which is such an essential part of their character. The scroll, to which you provided a link, is beautiful and instructive. Thank you for that, Lance.

 

.......... Check out link below if you want to see a really great kozuka with deer and moon..........

Yes, it is exquisite indeed.

 

Once again, Lance, thank you for your excellent response.

 

James

[christianmalterre]

Dear James,

 

i once had this nice set here,equally deer looking to the Moon(?)...

i do think,the association to the holy capital Nara is not that far away if we do see all those beautiful things...

Deer-motive is very beautiful indeed!

i do apperciate them too.

 

Christian

[jamesicus]

Dear James,

 

i once had this nice set here,equally deer looking to the Moon(?)...

i do think,the association to the holy capital Nara is not that far away if we do see all those beautiful things...

Deer-motive is very beautiful indeed!

i do apperciate them too.

 

Christian

Thank you very much for that information, Christian, and for the image depicting the beautiful deer. I am gaining a new perspective of the significance of these animals in Japanese culture.

 

James

[christianmalterre]

Dear James,

 

some retard,i but just browse mine catalogues due research for an friend...

found this one here...

maybe of interest-i do not know if it´s published elsewhere...?

Cheers!

Christian

[jamesicus]

Dear James,

 

some retard,i but just browse mine catalogues due research for an friend...

found this one here...

maybe of interest-i do not know if it´s published elsewhere...?

Cheers!

Christian

Thank you for the follow-up Christian - and the interesting tsuba image. Many years ago - in my earliest collecting years - Inami Hakusui, owner of the Japan Sword Shop in Tokyo, prevailed upon me to buy a deer antler katanakake instead of the ubiquitous lacquered type that I wanted. He explained he had a personal fondness for the former. I did purchase the one he recommended and used it for a few years however, I still preferred the "traditional style", and so I sold the deer antler katanakake in order to buy one. That was a mistake due to my ignorance of the significance of Sika in Japanese culture.

 

Deer (Sika) antler katanakake were discussed briefly on this Message Board a while back:

 

http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/nmb/ ... f=9&t=5635

http://nihontomessageboard.com/nmb/view ... 77&start=0

 

James