Kozuka Motif

[vajo]

Hello

 

Could someone help identify the motif of this two kozuka?

 

The first one is a rat wearing a kimono. Maybe it's a procession? Is there a tale for the motif?

 

The second is a castle. Is it possible to find out which castle?

 

Sorry for the bad picture i made it with my phone.

 

 

Thanks

 

Chris

[Geraint]

Hi Chris,

 

The first kozuka might be children's toys, the second looks like Nagoyamono work and I think your chances of identifying the castle are slim to none at all, if it even is a castle.

 

All the best

[johnnyi]

Possibly celebration of Japanese New Year (of the rat)  (which coincided with Chinese new year , and including bell ringing.  ?

 

regards, John  i

[vajo]

I found something out.

 

 

The Kozuka with the rat shows the Buddist monk Raigo (later Tesso) the iron rat.

The mask shows Ko-beshimi the deamon of petulance.

And the instrument is a den-den daiko (symbol for a child)

 

And here the tale:

Emperor Shirakawa promised Raigo vast rewards if he could use his spiritual powers to give the Emperor a son.

Accepting the offer, Raigo threw himself into meditation and prayer and magic. Soon enough a son was born to Emperor Shirakawa, the Prince Taruhito. The Empero break his promise to Raigo. Raigo went on a hunger strike and died after 100 days.  A figure in white was said to have appeared beside the cradle of the 4-year old Prince Taruhito, who died soon afterward. What Raigo had given, Raigo had taken away. Raigo used black magic to ensure he was reborn after death as a dread yokai. He twisted his body into the form of a giant rat as large as a man, with a body as strong as stone and with claws and teeth or iron.The newly-named Raigo the Rat invaded Enraku-ji with an army of rats, devouring their rare and valuable Buddhist scriptures, and even eating statues of the of the Buddha himself. This reign of rat-terror when on until a shrine was built to appease Raigo, transforming him from a deadly emissary of vengeance into a protecting kami spirit. 

 

 

 

[johnnyi]

wow, well done Chris (how do I erase dumb guesses? )    

john i

[SteveM]

  On 1/27/2017 at 7:12 PM, johnnyi said:

wow, well done Chris (how do I erase dumb guesses? )    

john i

 

I don't think yours was a dumb guess at all. I too am thinking this is a New Year's toy theme: denden daiko, daruma-otoshi, and kome kui-nezumi. 

The Tesso idea is interesting, but I find it hard to reconcile the denden daiko with Tesso, and I really think the ogre-face is a daruma-otoshi. So I'm thinking it is a New Year's toys motif (on this, the start of Chinese/Lunar New Year!).