Feathered Friend

[Henry Wilson]

Can anyone identify this bird? It is a from an old hanging scroll painting of mine. Many thanks in advance.

 

[BIG]

Hi Henry, think your little friend is a Japanese wax wing...

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waxwing#/media/File%3ABombycilla_japonica.jpg

 

Best Regards

[Henry Wilson]

Thank you Peter. Japanese waxwing or ヒレンジャク (Hirenjaku) it seems to be. Coincidentally I live in KamiRenjaku I am glad it is not a parrot or something like that! Does anyone have an idea of the significance such a bird might have?

[TETSUGENDO]

Henry,

 

The Hirenjaku is often associated with the autumn in Japanese art.

 

_StevenK

[Henry Wilson]

Thanks Steve. The picture has the bird in a dead tree suggesting autumn/winter. Renjaku 連雀 means sparrow so I looked in Joly and he says they are emblematic of gentleness.

[BIG]

In case of fittings and other samurai stuff they stand for faithful manners. There singing reminds to the Japanese word for "faithful".( Tschu, tschu, ...). They are also sponteanous and quick in action, so not so seldem we see them as a menuki and F/K theme.

 

Best Regards