Shachi - Dragon Fish

[GRC]

[Spartancrest]

I saw that one, it has a very complex edge on the rim - nice! 

[GRC]

I was surprised you didn't beat me to it Dale 

[Bugyotsuji]

Agreed. Very nice.

 

At risk of going off-topic, do we have a Namban Central thread anywhere, or are there several?

[Spartancrest]

 

IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER  

[Matsunoki]

Not exactly a sword fitting! …this is one that “got away”.

this wonderful full size Shachihoko from the roof of a temple was available in a gallery in London (Robert Brandt) a few years ago.  Such presence. I had a look twice but in the end left it. Have regretted it ever since. It was over 5ft high. I think it turned up in a sale in the States a couple of years later.

hohum.

 

[GRC]

This one was posted on page 2...

seems it got cleaned up and is back on the market

Originally posted by Dale, in August 2022:

Now:

 

[Steves87]

ahh yes I did see that one back up. the seller is generally good, but they do often use a colouring of some kind. Whatever they use, it does leech when submersed in liquid.

[GRC]

That's good info to have Steve. Thanks for letting us know 

 

Here's the main image of a menuki that came up, described as a "bird"....

Strange looking bird, with no beak and some oddly placed gold "tendrils"...

but sure enough, by the time you get to the 6th image, then you can see this for what it really is 

 

[rematron]

@GRC, hahaha.  Yeah, I went through the exact same thought process with that listing.  

[Kanenaga]

This is a great thread that Barry started. Interesting that many definitions of a shachi describe it as having the head of a tiger, yet many that we see clearly have a dragon head. There is a legend about the origin of the dragon-headed shachi, as described here: https://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/shachihoko.html

 

a Chinese legend (Jp. = Koi-no-Takinobori 鯉の滝登り) wherein carp swim, against all odds, up a waterfall known as the “Dragon Gate” at the headwaters of China’s Yellow River. The gods are very impressed by the feat, and reward the few successful carp by turning them into powerful dragons. The story symbolizes the virtues of courage, effort, and perseverance, which correspond to the nearly impossible struggle of humans to attain Buddhahood.

 

According to this story, the shachi represents the successful carp in the process of transforming into a dragon.  

 

[Kanenaga]

Censer in form of leaping carp

transforming into dragon. Unknown artist.
China, 1st half of 17th century, Ming Dynasty.
Photo courtesy Phoenix Art Museum

 

This and the previous quotation are Copyright Mark Schumacher,
www.onmarkproductions.com/XXX/XXX.html

[Spartancrest]

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/17690/lot/2033/

WOOD NETSUKE OF A DRAGON-HEADED FISH (SHACHI)

By Ikkyu (19th century)
Shown swimming, facing ahead, its tail threshing the water, a loose ball in its open mouth, the slightly worn wood bears a good patina and the eyes inlaid, signed Ikkyu
3 1/4in (8.2cm)

[Spartancrest]

I think the darker image has been seen before in this thread, but I found another that confirms both are cast copies. 

[Spartancrest]

Here is an ugly duckling winged version. https://www.jauce.com/auction/r1089997158   6.5-7cm

[GRC]

Yikes!, that one has seen better days... 

[GRC]

Fuchi & kashira set by Yoshioka Buzen - at Bonhams 

[Spartancrest]

Change the head and you have some nice Eagles! 

 

 

[b.hennick]

I do not think that your F/K theme is shiachi as they do not have feathers. 

[GRC]

That's a fair point Barry.

Those definitely are feathers now that I look at them more closely, along with the background being swirling clouds rather than water or a mix of both.

The carving on the dragon's back and tops of the wings looked kind of scale-like, plus I think Bonhams even listed them as shachi, so I just ran with it 

[GRC]

Another shachi Kabuto (helmet).

There was a crazy amount of effort and detail put into these shachi kabuto.

I figured I should repost the other two, previously posted by Steven K. and Barry H. respectively.

It's nice to see them all together.

 

I don't know anything about the history of kabuto styles and uses and should probably post these questions in the katchu section of the forum, but maybe someone who knows the answers could post a quick response  

 

Were elaborate helmets like these purely for pomp and ceremony in the Edo period?

Did helmets like this even exist in the pre-Edo periods of war? I can't imagine that kabuto like these would ever be worn in battle. 

[b.hennick]

Lovely! Probably not the word that you would use but aslo the kabuto are lovely.

[Spartancrest]

 

From a mismatched 'pair' of menuki https://www.jauce.com/auction/r1091980149  - chubby little fellow!

[GRC]

soft metal copy of one of the Kinai ones:

[Spartancrest]

This cast copy is hidden away in a group of 20 - https://www.jauce.com/auction/d1094850303

[About half the twenty are cast]

[Deez77]

Hi all, 

A decent fuchi kashira set currently available here: https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/q1094817983

 

Damon

[Kurikata]

A suaka one, currently on Ebay

[GRC]

A really interesting variation on the motif, in soft metal, done by Sai Juji Ishikawa.

Equivalent to the Mona Lisa?... this shachi is always watching you 

[GRC]

And another Nanban variant:

 

 

[rematron]

https://www.jauce.com/auction/q1094817983