{"product_id":"item-6387-saigyo-mt-fuji-netsuke","title":"Item #6387: Saigyo \u0026 Mt. Fuji Netsuke","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"description\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eWooden netsuke carved in the form of Mt. Fuji and a traveler resting and looking up at the mountain, depicting the legend of Siagyo Hoshi (Sato Hioye Norikiyo 1115-1188), also called Yoshikiyo. He was a nobleman and member of the Fujiwara clan, descended from the Tawara Toda Hidesato. In 1137, at the age of 23, he renounced all his dignities to become a travelling priest. Leaving the court of Go Toba (Hoyen year), he started on his journey with a big hat and a staff. He is still pictured with these attributes. Boys draw him in contemplation of Fuji in an elementary way, be means of two strokes for the mountain, a circle for the pilgrim's hat, and a short stroke protruding from it representing the end of his staff. This is called the \"Saigyo ni Fuji\" or \"Fuji-mi Siagyo\" and is found in netsuke in the form of a mountain with a little man at the foot of it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe image of Mt. Fuji is not only an icon of Japan but also the focus of actual spiritual energy in the Japanese cultural system. The mountain was a place where people would climb to the top to be in contact with the kami or god of that mountain. It was considered an act of spirituality -- so much so that many small imitation Fuji mountains were created in the early city of Edo which became Tokyo. An interesting fact was that in the actual climbing of the mountain women were forbidden to climb all the way to the top.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn extremely similar piece is illustrated in Legend in Japanese Art by Henry Joli, page 155.  The piece is part of the Frank's Collection in the British Museum.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"description\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"description\"\u003esize: \u003cspan\u003e2 X 1.75 X 1.5 INCHES\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Robyn Buntin of Honolulu Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47615330910397,"sku":"6387","price":2013.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0514\/5686\/8541\/files\/image_fb0a45aa-61d6-435b-b818-d0547659f8e5.jpg?v=1783550487","url":"https:\/\/robynbuntin.com\/en-ca\/products\/item-6387-saigyo-mt-fuji-netsuke","provider":"Robyn Buntin of Honolulu Gallery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}