Catalog Number
|
Catalog Number |
CAS 1993-0001-0391 | |
| Category | Carvings; Folk Toys | |
| Object Name | Wood carving (bullfinch) | |
| Culture | Japanese | |
| Global Region | East Asia | |
| Country | Japan | |
| State/Prov./Dist. | Fukuoka Prefecture | |
| County | ||
| Other Geographic Data | City: Dazaifu; Shrine: Tenmungu | |
| Maker's Name | Unknown | |
| Date of Manufacture | ca. 1960 | |
| Collection Name | Kadota Collection (Japanese Folk Toys) | |
| Materials | Wood; Paint; Paper | |
| Description | Stylized carving of a bullfinch carved from single piece of wood; Long, curling wood shavings form 4 rows of feathers around bird's head and are painted red and green; Bird's breast and head are painted red; Piece of gold foil paper crowns bird's head; Bullfinches are associated with Sugawara Michizane (born 845; died 903) who was later deified as the god Tenjin, because Japanese word for bullfinch (uso) is a homonym for the word ‘lie.’ Michizane was exiled from the Kyoto court on the basis of lies told by his rivals, and following his death, the capital was struck by natural disasters which ended only when his name was cleared and shrines were built in his honor; He was deified as the god of learning and the protector from natural disasters. Each new year, people exchange last year’s bullfinch for a new one to reverse (or make a lie) of any bad luck that might lie ahead; This toy was probably introduced at the end of the 10th century. | |
| Dimensions (cm) | Height = 9.0, Width = 10.0, Depth = 7.5 | |