Japanese hotei
- Japan: early 20th century
- Material: Ceramic
- Size: 23/18 cm, height: 15 cm
- Very good condition
The seven gods of luck (shichi-fukujin), which cannot be clearly assigned to a religious direction, are very popular as patrons and good luck charms in Japan.
One of them is Hotei san, who in some contexts is also regarded as an appearance of the Buddha.
He is the kind and cheerful God of contentment and abundance, with a big belly and a full sack. Sometimes small children (karako) climb on his shoulders to play jokes with the good-natured.
Buddhismus
Buddhism reached Japan in 552 (verifiable) through Korean monks.
Until the Meji period it was the main religion of Japan. Around 1870 Shintoism became the state religion in Japan.
Buddhism can be divided into many different directions, which were decisively involved in the emergence of Japanese aesthetics.
Here are a few examples: Zen (originated in China, 5th century.), Soto-Shu (school), Rinzai-shu.
Origin of my offered object:
Some of these pieces come from the Japanese art trade or directly from temples and monasteries.
In Japan, as in our country, there is a considerable lack of young people, so that some of them have to be abandoned, which means that the sacred objects are offered on the market.