1908.82.301

Collection type

Object

Description

Amulet, sheet of paper with a red stamp and picture of two foxes and two serpents. [SM 14/10/2008]

Long description

Amulet, sheet of paper with a red ?shrine stamp and picture of two foxes and two serpents. One fox is black, the other is white and between them is an inscription. There are two serpents, one has a branch with leaves in its mouth, the other has a piece of bent ?wire or similar. [SM 14/10/2008]

Geographical reference

Japan

Asia > Eastern Asia > Japan

Honshu Kyoto

Cultural groups

Japanese

Person

Field collector Basil Hall Chamberlain

PRM source Basil Hall Chamberlain

Date / Period

Date made: Before 1908

Date collected

By 1908

Acquisition information

Donated: 1908

Materials and processes

Material Paper Plant, Material Ink, Material Pigment, Process Stamped, Process Printed

Dimensions

Width: max 228 mm, Length: max 391 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1908.82.301 Other numbers: Chamberlain no. 143

Research and responses

This object was examined along with others from the Chamberlain Collection by Sekiko Matsuzaki-Petitmengin in June 2003 and 15 October 2007. She placed this object within the category of Ofuda [SM 13/10/2008]

This object was examined by Professor Itaru Chijiwa during his research visit in November 2008. He noted that the serpents depicted are called "Ugajin" in Japanese. He also noted that the object might be from the Fushimi Inari shrine in Kyoto. [SM 04/12/2008]

The imagery of the two foxes and two serpents are on all of the following in the Chamberlain collection, 1908.82.264, 300, 301, 362, 363 and 802. Itaru Chijiwa, Professor of History at Kokugakuin University in Japan, examined all of these during a research visit in March 2013 and explained: The pair of foxes are messengers of the Shinto god Inari, the serpents are shown with three bundles of rice both of these are symbols of money and wealth. These are amulets for a profitable business or good harvest. 1908.82.264, 362 and 363 are all from Matsue so Lafcadio Hearn probably collected these for Basil Chamberlain. In Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan (1895) Hearn described ofuda from Matsue with the two foxes facing each other in a sitting position, one black and one white, each with a bunch of rice-straw in its mouth as charms against fire. Professor Chijiwa noted Hearn is the only person to associate these with protection against fire. The other three, 1908.82.300, 301 and 802 are from Kyoto. [ZM 06/03/2013]

Search terms: Religion, Picture and Graphic Art, Commemoration, Ornament, Writing, Print, Inscription, Amulet, Religious Object