Menuki theme, help needed…

[Marius]

Dear All,

 

any idea what the motif of these menuki is? Seems like a Chinese tale, but which?

 

Thanks for your ideas! 
 

 

 

[vajo]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urashima_Tarō

[Marius]

Chris, You have suggested the Tide Jewels theme, and I think it was spot on, here is an illustration - "The Dragon-King of the Sea gives 
his son-in-law the tide jewels"

 

Thank you, I would have never found it.

 

 

[Marius]

And the motif has been already discussed, although the representation was somewhat different than on those menuki:

https://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/27799-motif-tale/

 

[Marius]

And one of the members finally nailed it:

 

„Your menuki is Choryo with a shoe (not a tide jewel) and Kosekiko with the military strategy scroll (that he gives to Choryo after Choryo retrieves his shoe...)“

 

Thank you all!