Kyo-Yaki Figures of Jittoku and Kanzan – Edo/Meiji

A superb pair of pottery figures of the legendary monks - Jittoku and Kanzan. Jittoku is the standing figure holding a bloom and measures 8 ¼” tall by 5 ¼” wide by 3 ½” deep. Kanzan is the seated figure reading a scroll and measures 5 3/8” tall by 5 ¾” wide by 5 ½” deep. They are glazed in the traditional rich thick colors of aubergine, gold and green – the heads are unglazed although the hair has a light black/brown glaze. The hands appear to have been inserted into the body of the pieces at the time of the potting. Excellent condition – no chips or cracks. These date from the late Edo to early Meiji period, circa 1850-1880. Kanzan (reading a scroll) and Jittoku (holding a broom). Kanzan's name literally means "Cold Mountain," and so he is sometimes called the "Poet of Cold Mountain," the "Recluse of Cold Mountain," or something to that effect. Jittoku's name literally means "the Foundling." These are legendary figures. As the story goes, Kanzan was a mountain hermit. Jittoku was a foster child in the care of a nearby Buddhist monastery, where he swept the kitchen floors as did other odd jobs. Their iconography derives from this background. Kanzan usually appears holding or reading a scroll, and Jittoku usually appears holding a broom. They wear simple, rough clothing, and are often depicted with laughing features. Their laughter seems like they are witnessing a sense of liberation, joy, and freedom, like they know something that the viewer does not. The two monks appear to invite the viewer in to join them, with their hand gestures. Kanzan and Jittoku are famous for their mad, outrageous laughter and legend has it that they spoke in their own unique language to one another.

powered by
enabling vibrant online markets ©2010