Width: 42cms
Height: 91cms
Depth: 32cms
Date: Circa 1880
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Product Code: KPME72
Artist / Company: Miyao
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A large bronze and multi-metal Koro being held aloft by four of Ryujin, (the Dragon God of the Sea’s) attendants.
Panels on the koro depict Ryujin presenting gifts, including the bell of Mii-dera to Hidesato as a thank you for slaying the great centipede Mukade. The other depicts Ryujin presenting the tide jewels to Empress Jingu.
Read on for more information:
Front Panel
The front panel of the Koro depicts a complex scene of Ryujin and many of his fish-hat wearing attendants presenting the bell of Mii-dera to the hero Hidesato for the killing of the great centipede Mukade.
This is one of Japan’s favourite myths; it begins with the hero Hidesato about to cross the Sea bridge which spans lake Biwa, a large dragon confronted him and blocked his path. Hidesato was unruffled by this and stepped upon it’s head and walked across it’s back, he had not gone more than a few steps when a small old man appeared and complimented him upon his courage.
He claimed he had waited a very long time for someone so brave and beseeched him to kill the giant centipede Mukade, which had poisoned the lake. Up on Hidesato consenting to the quest the old man revelled himself to be Ryujin the Dragon God of the Sea and lead him into the water of the lake. He joined Ryujinn and his children and grandchildren in a large feast until midnight came and the scouts spotted the centipede.
Hidesato saw the huge crawling form with it’s glowing eyes and hundreds of legs, he tried once to hit the beast with an arrow but it glanced off, and again he tried but to no avail, he had only one arrow left so carefully moistened the end with spittle and shot with true aim, the arrow sailing true to it’s target. The lights dimmed in the centipedes eyes and it sunk to the bottom of the lake. Hidesato was victorious.
Ryujin lead the way to his palace and Hidesato was introduced to Ryujin’s beloved daughter Oto-hime, he was also presented with many valuable gifts including an enormous bell which he presented to the monastery of Mii-dera.
Back Panel
The back of the koro depicts a simpler more intimate scene of Ryujin himself presenting a tide jewel to Empress Jingu, she is flanked by two attendants with fans and wear the phoenix headpiece of an empress and the flowing scarf of a divine entity. Alluding to her nickname ‘Empress Jingo’, Jingo means divine prowess and refers to her extraordinary place in Japanese legend.
There is much historical debate over whether Empress Jingo was based on a real person or not, it is said she was the wife of Chuai-tenno who was emperor of Japan around 200AD, he died while mounting a campaign against the Kumaso of Kyushu. She concealed this fact from his men and lead them to victory while pregnant with the Emperor’s son. After this she heard the voices of deities commanding her to invade ‘the promised land’ of the Korean peninsular, she journeyed to lake Biwa and with the help of Ryujin’s tide jewels she stranded then drowned Korea’s navy.
She returned to Japan three years later and ascended the Chrysanthemum throne ruling until she was 100 years old, after which her son succeeded her.
A large and resplendent Cockerel adorns the top of the Koro.
Signed Miyao.
Ryujin
Ryujin is the dragon god of the sea, he is considered a good god and a patron of Japan, he is able to take human form and controls the sea with two tide jewels, one lowering and the other raising the tides. He lives under the sea in a large and impressive castle made from white and red coral, along with his two daughters and many attendants. Attendants of Ryujin can appear as sea creatures or in human form, usually wearing a hat with a fish on. He appears in many stories and legends including Benkei and the Bell and Empress Jingu.
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