Menuki Signed "higashiyama" (School? Maker? Location?) Help Please....

[CurtisR]

Hello All,

 

I've come to possess this menuki pair and the work - at least where age hasn't gotten the better of it - seems very nice, even under a loupe. They appear to be iron (magnetic) but also decorated with silver foiled over copper, and gold as well. I'm unsure of the theme but it appears to be a Samurai listening to a seashell (?) and the other a samurai on his knees being blocked from two vases of treasure (?) by an unknown person/samurai with a silver staff.

 

On the ura of one menuki is a signature plate (in gold) which reads "Higashiyama". I've tried to research this and it seems to be not only a place (near Kyoto long ago) but also a period in the late 1500's. Perhaps also a school of menuki craftsmen? I've tried to capture the omote and ura of each in the attached pics, and would greatly appreciate any information or thoughts on them. They are finely detailed, even showing the individual hairs of the mustache. Their length is approx. 3.5cm. I initially though early Edo but after looking further at the corrosion and style I'm guessing perhaps pre-Edo.

 

Many thanks in advance ~~

 

Curtis R.

[Ian]

Not sure but it may be this story  :dunno:The are normally on a mule and a dragon, but he dose have a staff. Can you see a scroll?

Kôsekikô dropped his sandal. Chôryô returned it to him. As a reward, Kôsekikô gave Chôryô a book of military strategy

[Brian]

Even with the condition issues, I think these are very nice Curtis. Iron menuki are in demand. You did well.

 

Brian

[Tanto54]

Dear Curtis, these menuki depict the legend of Kanshin (Han Xin in Chinese). Kanshin was a famous general during the Han Dynasty. To many Japanese, he is the model of humility and restraint because of an incident from his youth. Even though he was very skilled with a sword, when a ruffian called him a coward in the marketplace, Kanshin restrained himself. He even endured the humiliation of crawling between the bully's legs (a common form of hazing in China/Japan at the time) when he could have easily drawn his sword and killed the man instead. He is often depicted on kodogu and other Japanese art in the process of crawling towards the bully''s open legs (the bully holding a staff and with pots or baskets in the background indicating the marketplace setting).

 

 

[CurtisR]

Wild - Thank you all for the information...and what a cool legend / story! I don't think I paid too much for them now either . I'm debating whether to keep them or to put them up for sale, but I like them even more now...I had never heard of being made to crawl between the legs, but the baskets and 'down on all fours' depiction makes sense now. VERY cool!

 

Thanks guys and hope you're all having a good end to the week! Oh, and if anyone knows about the signature, please feel free to come on board. I'm still researching also.

 

Cheers,

 

Curtis R.

[John A Stuart]

東山 Touzan. Perhaps? John

[Soshin]

Hi Curtis,

 

I think the name could be read as "Tōzan" as stated by John. The literal meaning of the characters is "east mountain" might have been or is a location. It the shame that one of the menuki is so damaged you don't see iron menuki like that often.

[CurtisR]

Thank you David & John! Yes, it's very unfortunate that the damage is pretty bad on one of them - to me it appears they were in a humid area for a long time (they were originally - recently - in Japan)...I think perhaps a soft brush might take some of the rust off but I haven't tried it. They are very pretty under magnification, and great care was used to make them...pretty awesome .

 

Also, thanks for the tip on iron menuki being sought-after. As I said I'm not sure if I'll hang on to them but very fun to study regardless and they have a very solid feel to them. I can also see the different layering of materials because of the damage. Fascinating little guys, even though I'd rather the one was in better shape.

 

Again, many thanks - I'm always blown away by the deep, wide ranges of knowledge here :beer:

 

Curtis