Institute for Biodiversity Science and Sustainability

CAS Anthropology Collections Database


Catalog Number

CAS 1993-0001-0001   CAS 1993-0001-0001; Figurine (mouse with rice bale)
Category Folk Toys
Object Name Figurine (mouse with rice bale)
Culture Japanese
Global Region East Asia
Country Japan
State/Prov./Dist. Kyoto Prefecture
County
Other Geographic Data City: Fushimi; District: Fushimi-Ku
Maker's Name Unknown
Date of Manufacture ca. 1975
Collection Name Kadota Collection (Japanese Folk Toys)
Materials Clay; Tempera paint
Description Press-molded clay figurine of a gray mouse, wearing a red apron and leaning against a yellow rice bale; Japanese inscription on reverse; The mouse is the first animal represented in the 12 cyclical years named for animals, and is associated with Daikoku ten, the god of wealth and harvest; The practice of dedicating a particular year with an animal began in China between 0 and 200 CE and was introduced to Japan during Ojin Emperor's era.
Dimensions (cm) Height = 13.8, Width = 11.4, Depth = 10.2