{"title":"Scholar Art","description":"\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe aesthetic of the scholar studio is embodied in an acute appreciation for representations of the natural world in any form; from the subject of a painting in the alcove to the texture of the wood on the desk and the colors or deformities in the bamboo brush hanging from a piece of natural wood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eA profound influence from China, through the practice of Chinese style steeped tea (Sencha) and glorification of the Literati ideal of the Ming is part of the dual basis of Japans Scholar tradition.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eEqually important is an understanding and appreciation of natural degradation and the fleeting nature of existence espoused in the ideal of wabi-sabi and the world of Japanese Powdered Tea (Maccha).\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eBehind both these concepts lies a basis in Zen (Chan) Buddhist precepts and Taoist\/Confucianist Philosophy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eStone. Wood.\u003cspan class=\"Apple-converted-space\"\u003e  \u003c\/span\u003eEarth. Grain. Texture. Form. All natural, imperfect, transient and unique.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"set-of-5-dutch-glass-vessels-from-nakai-riken-collection","title":"Set of 5 Dutch Glass Vessels from Nakai Riken Collection","description":"\u003cp\u003eAntique, Japanese, A set of 5 rare Dutch glass cups imported to Japan in the Edo period and formerly owned by the Confucian scholar Nakai Riken (1732-1817).  They are enclosed in a custom made double sided wooden box with drop in doors titled on the side Yoi-O-Gozui (Five fortuitous ways to be drunken) with a long verse carved into each door.  Of course, the meaning of the title goes much deeper, and the Gozui is also a Confucian concept.  The emperor of China distributed five jade treasures to the five feudal lords, and they were named.  The scholar has named each of the cups after one of these jade objects, Ko, Yu, Haku, Shi and Dan.  The Osaka University Professor Ueda Minoru researched Riken, and mentions the treasured set of five glass cups, the smallest with a golden rim, in his research of the scholars life and belongings, claiming them to be one of his most treasured items. The largest cup is 15 cm tall, the smallest 8 cm.  All is in overall excellent condition.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNakai Riken (1732-1817) was a Confucian scholar of the later Edo period. He studied Neo-Confucianism under Goi Ranshu, and together with his older brother Nakai Chikuzan, supported Kaitokudo, a school of learning in Osaka, leaving behind the greatest academic achievements of the Kaitokudo school. the rational and modern academic style that is characteristic of Kaitokudo literati was established mainly by Riken. As a scholar he commented on the classics and wrote books such as \" Nanakyo Kadai,\" and \"Shichikyo Kadai Ryaku.\" These were compiled into a total of thirty-three volumesara. He was well versed not only in economics but also in natural sciences such as astronomy. Goryu Asada, who had studied Western astronomy in earnest, stayed with. He wrote an overview of the ming period book \"Tenkyo Arumon,\" by Yushiroku, and created a celestial map. In addition to astronomy, he also left a natural history map \"Sakura Cho\", an anatomical chart \"Etsuryofutsu\", and a microscope observation record \"Microscopic Record\". In addition, he wrote \"Kashokoku Monogatari\" (The Tale of Kashokoku), in which the protagonist was the king of a fictitious ideal nation, 'Kashokoku,' and discussed how the nation should be governed.  A prolific writer, he left a vast body of contextual research for subsequent generations.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kura Monzen Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49854846992631,"sku":"K914","price":2200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2025-07-1504.25.05_copy.jpg?v=1752903068"},{"product_id":"snail-climbing-mt-fuji-zen-painting-ー山岡-鐵舟","title":"Snail Climbing Mt. Fuji Zen Painting ー山岡 鐵舟","description":"\u003cp\u003eA snail approaches Mt. Fuji, a metaphor for determination and perseverance against daunting odds by famous Zen acolyte and swordsman-turned-scholar Yamaoka Tesshu. Ink on paper in cloth border with wood rollers.  The scroll is 57 x 210 cm (22-1\/2 x 82-1\/2 inches) and in original condition, with some wrinkles in the paper and a pair of stains in the upper left of the border cloth.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the best-known literary mentions of this theme is the haiku by Kobayashi Issa (1763–1828): Katatsumuri \/ Sorosoro nobore \/ Fuji no yama (Snail— steadily ascend, a Mountain called Fuji). This metaphor is often referenced in Zen Buddhism and literary arts, and it typically conjures the image of a tiny snail slowly inching its way up the immense and majestic Mt. Fuji; a poetic and philosophical image that encapsulates themes of perseverance, humility, and the slow pursuit of great aspirations. Tesshu was no stranger to great endeavors. A great warrior, calligrapher, zen practioner and scholar. For him, the image in Zen is used to describe slow but steady spiritual progress. Enlightenment is not instant; it’s something that may take a lifetime (or many lifetimes), like a snail inching its way up a sacred mountain. The snail, despite its slowness, continues to climb. It becomes a symbol of the virtue of quiet endurance—the idea that even small or humble beings can reach great heights through persistence. The vast scale of Mt. Fuji compared to the tiny snail emphasizes human humility before the enormity of nature or enlightenment.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYamaoka Tesshu (1836-1889) was a student of military arts and famous calligrapher. Born into a samurai family, Tesshu began studying swordsmanship from a very young age. He took the name Yamaoka upon marrying the daughter of a spear school, continuing the family name in their place. An avid devotee to Zen training, he attained enlightenment at 45. A compatriot of the infamous Zen priest Nakahara Nantenbo, the two established a Zen training center together. He was a bodyguard and teacher to the young Meiji emperor, Zen teacher, poet, swordsman and artist, a giant of a man containing all of these personalities (or perhaps none?) He died of stomach cancer at the age of 54, his last poem reading Tightening my stomach against the pain, The cry of a morning crow…\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Century',serif;\"\u003eAntique, meiji, lapanese, painting, scroll, zen \u0026amp; scholar, scholar, calligraphy\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Yamaoka Tesshu","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49900008145143,"sku":"Z004","price":800.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/Z004.jpg?v=1753667711"},{"product_id":"edo-period-scroll-travelling-stick-ー江森-月居","title":"Edo period Scroll, Travelling Stick ー江森 月居","description":"\u003cp\u003eA travelling stick and bundle meander nonchalantly up the hill formed by a verse by important Edo period poet Emori Gekkyo (1745-1824).  Performed with ink on precious satin it is mounted in a silk border with paper extensions and features wooden rollers. The scroll is 52 x 122 cm (48 x 20-1\/2 inches) in completely original condition and comes in an old annotated wooden box.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEmori Gekkyo was one of the leading students of Yosa Buson and a prominent haikai poet of the late 18th century. Along with Nakagyo Doryu and Higashino Michihiko the three were considered the greatest poets of their generation. Born in Kyoto, Emori Gekkyo studied kokugaku under Arakida Hisao and Murata Shunmon, and entered the haikai world as a disciple of Yosa Buson. His talent quickly emerged; in 1776 he was included in an anthology with Takai Kitō and received high praise from both Buson and Kitō for his poetic refinement. Following Buson’s death, Gekkyo rose as a leading haikai master in the Kinai region. In 1790, he was appointed a right-side master in the prestigious Nijō family school and was honored with the title “restorer of haikai excellence,” reportedly offering a patronage of 30 ryō. Though later forced into temporary seclusion due to scandal, he continued to exert influence across Settsu, Tanba, and Wakasa. Initially shaped by Buson’s elevated style, his poetry later adapted to the more popular modes of the Kansei-Bunka period, though it remained distinct from the mainstream noted for his command of tsukeai (linked-verse composition) and refined haibun in classical diction. He is buried at Konpuku-ji Temple in Kyoto.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Emori Gekkyo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49900523028727,"sku":"Z026","price":650.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/Z026_9331d16c-5d83-4e9d-971c-8a75283b9030.jpg?v=1753686694"},{"product_id":"mortar-and-pestle-by-hakuin-ekaku-edo-period-zen-painting-ー白隠-慧鶴","title":"Mortar and Pestle by Hakuin Ekaku, Edo period Zen Painting ー白隠 慧鶴","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn image of the humble mortar by Hakuin Ekaku in soft ink tones mounted as a scroll suitable for the way of tea or the modesty of monastic life. Hakuin occasionally incorporated household tools like mortars into his Zen paintings and calligraphy, blending folk motifs with spiritual insight. These images often carried humorous or shocking juxtapositions to jolt the viewer out of dualistic thinking. The mortar in Japanese Zen art stands not just as a utilitarian object but as a multivalent symbol—a vessel of transformation, a mirror of emptiness, and a reminder that awakening arises through continuous, grounded, and often humble practice. Just as a mortar grinds coarse matter into fine flour, it symbolizes the relentless effort of zazen (meditation) and koan study—the “grinding down” of delusions, attachments, and ego. The practitioner's mind is refined through rigorous, repetitive discipline. In some Zen parables, the mortar is left empty, emphasizing emptiness, a central tenet of Zen. The object becomes a paradox: empty yet full, still yet active. It reflects the non-dual awareness cultivated through Zen, where distinctions between self and other, tool and task, dissolve. Conversely, “pounding the empty mortar” might be reinterpreted positively—as a way of expressing action beyond gain and loss, a pure manifestation of the Way. Pale ink on paper remounted in dark hand-made momigami reflecting the original mounting and suitable to the humble confines of the monastery or Tea house.  It is 56 x 120 cm (22 x 47 inches) and in excellent condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHakuin Ekaku (1686-1768) was one of the most influential figures in the art world of Zen Buddhism.  Hakuin Ekaku was born in Hara, Suruga Province (present-day Shizuoka Prefecture). He joined the priesthood at the age of 15, entering Shoinji at the foot of Mt. Fuji, and shortly thereafter moved to Daishoji temple, then Zensoji. However he became disillusioned with the stagnant practices of his time and falling into despair embarked on a rigorous journey of training and self-inquiry leaving the temples to become an itinerant wandering monk.  During his travels he came to Zuiunji, where he fell under the influence of the stern scholar Bao.  After a profound awakening experience in his early thirties, he emerged as a reformer of the Rinzai Zen school. Eventually he settled at Shoinji, where he would serve as head priest for the rest of hs life, attracting followers from throughout the archipelago. Hakuin revitalized Zen practice by reintroducing strict meditation (zazen), koan study, and direct, often confrontational teaching methods. A gifted teacher and writer, he was also an accomplished painter and calligrapher, using bold brushwork and spontaneous imagery to make Zen accessible beyond the monastic world. His humorous yet piercing visual works—including depictions of Bodhidharma, Zen patriarchs, and folk motifs—communicate profound teachings with immediacy and wit. Rejecting temple-bound seclusion, Hakuin remained rooted in his home village, teaching laypeople and monastics alike. His legacy endures in both the spiritual rigor and expressive freedom he brought to Zen, shaping its trajectory into the modern era.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hakuin Ekaku","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49900541313271,"sku":"Z027","price":5000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/Z027.jpg?v=1753687613"},{"product_id":"wooden-tray-by-yabe-takayoshi-and-shimizu-hian-ー矢部-高義犀洲-清水-比庵","title":"Wooden Tray by Yabe Takayoshi and Shimizu Hian ー矢部 高義(犀洲), 清水 比庵","description":"\u003cp\u003eA wooden tray designed by poet\/painter Shimizu Hian turned and lacquered by Yabe Takeyoshi emblazoned with A long poem signed the 77 year old Hian. Into the tray are carved pomegranates, a symbol long used in scholar arts. In Asian art broadly, the pomegranate usually conveys a wish for abundance—whether of life, lineage, longevity, or blessings—expressed through both its symbolic meaning and visual richness. The tray is 36 cm (14 inches) diameter, 3.5 cm (1-1\/2 inches) to the rim and in excellent condition.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShimizu Hian (1883-1975) was a popular poet and painter of the early modern period born in Takahashi City, the grandson of the feudal lord a Bicchu-Matsuyama castle. He created his own unique form of expression combining three arts, poetry, calligraphy, and painting. He graduated law studies from the prestigious Kyoto University, and took a position in Kobe District Court. A social activist, from there he wandered through various positions, bank clerk, office worker, mayor of a small town. Shimizu followed the traditional style of literati calligraphy and painting, while at the same time creating a completely new way of expression. At the age of 84, he became a household name when he was chosen to be the master of ceremonies at the opening of the Imperial Poetry Reading Ceremony。His paintings were lauded by such greats as Kawai Gyokudo and Konoshima Keika, and he was a true literati in life style. Work by him is held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, The National Museum of Asian Art (Freer Sackler Branch) of the Smithsonian in Washington DC, Okayama Prefectural Museum.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Shimizu Hian","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50008330240247,"sku":"K937","price":250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2025-08-1905.15.30.jpg?v=1756781210"},{"product_id":"wooden-obon-crane-by-yabe-takayoshi-ー矢部-高義犀洲-清水-比庵","title":"Wooden Obon Crane by Yabe Takayoshi ー矢部 高義(犀洲), 清水 比庵","description":"\u003cp\u003eA wooden tray designed by poet\/painter Shimizu Hian turned and lacquered by Yabe Takeyoshi emblazoned with a lengthy poem and a pair of white cranes.  The tray is 36 cm (14 inches) diameter, 3.5 cm (1-1\/2 inches) to the rim and in excellent condition.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShimizu Hian (1883-1975) was a popular poet and painter of the early modern period born in Takahashi City, the grandson of the feudal lord a Bicchu-Matsuyama castle. He created his own unique form of expression combining three arts, poetry, calligraphy, and painting. He graduated law studies from the prestigious Kyoto University, and took a position in Kobe District Court. A social activist, from there he wandered through various positions, bank clerk, office worker, mayor of a small town. Shimizu followed the traditional style of literati calligraphy and painting, while at the same time creating a completely new way of expression. At the age of 84, he became a household name when he was chosen to be the master of ceremonies at the opening of the Imperial Poetry Reading Ceremony。His paintings were lauded by such greats as Kawai Gyokudo and Konoshima Keika, and he was a true literati in life style. Work by him is held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, The National Museum of Asian Art (Freer Sackler Branch) of the Smithsonian in Washington DC, Okayama Prefectural Museum.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Shimizu Hian","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50008368709879,"sku":"K938","price":250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2025-08-1905.10.08.jpg?v=1756879352"},{"product_id":"wooden-obon-persimmon-by-yabe-takayoshi-ー矢部-高義犀洲-清水-比庵","title":"Wooden Obon Persimmon by Yabe Takayoshi ー矢部 高義(犀洲), 清水 比庵","description":"\u003cp\u003eA wooden tray designed by poet\/painter Shimizu Hian turned and lacquered by Yabe Takeyoshi emblazoned with The four character phrase Mainichi Kakyo “Every Day life at its finest.” Into the tray are carved persimmons, a symbol of autumn abundance. The tray is 30.5 cm (12 inches) diameter, 3.5 cm (1-1\/2 inches) to the rim and in excellent condition.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShimizu Hian (1883-1975) was a popular poet and painter of the early modern period born in Takahashi City, the grandson of the feudal lord a Bicchu-Matsuyama castle. He created his own unique form of expression combining three arts, poetry, calligraphy, and painting. He graduated law studies from the prestigious Kyoto University, and took a position in Kobe District Court. A social activist, from there he wandered through various positions, bank clerk, office worker, mayor of a small town. Shimizu followed the traditional style of literati calligraphy and painting, while at the same time creating a completely new way of expression. At the age of 84, he became a household name when he was chosen to be the master of ceremonies at the opening of the Imperial Poetry Reading Ceremony。His paintings were lauded by such greats as Kawai Gyokudo and Konoshima Keika, and he was a true literati in life style. Work by him is held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, The National Museum of Asian Art (Freer Sackler Branch) of the Smithsonian in Washington DC, Okayama Prefectural Museum.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Shimizu Hian","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50008479531255,"sku":"K936","price":275.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2025-08-1905.05.28copy.jpg?v=1757730435"},{"product_id":"wooden-tray-beans-by-yabe-takayoshi-shimizu-hian","title":"Wooden Tray, Beans by Yabe Takayoshi \u0026 Shimizu Hian ー矢部 高義(犀洲), 清水 比庵","description":"\u003cp\u003eA wooden tray by Yabe Takayoshi carved with an auspicious design by Shimizu Hian with the  phrase Buji-sokusai. Buji Sokusai is a traditional Japanese expression meaning literally: (buji) “without incident” or “safe,” and Sokusai  “free from illness,” or “in good health.” It often appears in Buddhist or Shintō contexts, prayers, or New Year’s greetings, expressing the hope to live through the year without calamity or illness. The tray is 27 cm (11 inches) diameter and in excellent condition.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShimizu Hian (1883-1975) was a popular poet and painter of the early modern period born in Takahashi City, the grandson of the feudal lord a Bicchu-Matsuyama castle. He created his own unique form of expression combining three arts, poetry, calligraphy, and painting. He graduated law studies from the prestigious Kyoto University, and took a position in Kobe District Court. A social activist, from there he wandered through various positions, bank clerk, office worker, mayor of a small town. Shimizu followed the traditional style of literati calligraphy and painting, while at the same time creating a completely new way of expression. At the age of 84, he became a household name when he was chosen to be the master of ceremonies at the opening of the Imperial Poetry Reading Ceremony。His paintings were lauded by such greats as Kawai Gyokudo and Konoshima Keika, and he was a true literati in life style. Work by him is held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, The National Museum of Asian Art (Freer Sackler Branch) of the Smithsonian in Washington DC, Okayama Prefectural Museum.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Shimizu Hian","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50008481333495,"sku":"K935","price":220.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2025-08-1905.01.02copy.jpg?v=1757730536"},{"product_id":"lotus-leaf-basin-with-frog-ー土楽庵-堀田-蘇岳-蓮葉形-水盤","title":"Lotus leaf Basin with Frog ー土楽庵 八田 蘇岳 “蓮葉形 水盤”","description":"\u003cp\u003eA sweet little frog rests on the tattered edges of a decaying lotus leaf forming this large basin dating from the Taisho to early Showa era (early 20th century) by Hatta Sogaku, an artist active in the early 20th century, enclosed in the original signed wooden box titled Hasu-ha-gata Suiban and signed Doraku-an Sogaku.  It is 43.5 x 30 x 9 cm (17 x 12 x 3-1\/2 inches) and is in excellent condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hatta Sogaku","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50008811110647,"sku":"K943","price":950.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2025-08-2002.31.32.jpg?v=1757486893"},{"product_id":"taisho-p-scholars-rock-ink-painting-1922-ー菊池-契月-月山之人雲岩","title":"Taisho p. Scholars Rock Ink Painting, 1922 ー菊池 契月 \"月山之人雲岩\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eA contemplation stone in dramatic ink work accompanied by a jagged poem by Kikuchi Keigetsu dated 1922 enclosed in a period wooden box.  Ink on paper in a silk mounting featuring solid ivory rollers.  It is 43 x 217 cm ’17 x 85-1\/2 inches) and in overall fine condition, with toning to the paper consistent with age and exposure.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKikuchi Keigetsu (1879-1955) was born in Nagano, and studied Nanga under Kodama Katei before apprenticing to Kikuchi Hobun in Kyoto.   He spent a year in Europe, and exhibited nationally with the Bunten.  He was later appointed a member of the Imperial Art Academy, one of the highest honors for an artist in Japan.  According to Roberts, he specialized in Portraits... a combination of Western and Japanese elements marked by a certain intentional naiveté.  His work is held in the Kyoto Municipal Art Museum and the National Museum of Modern Art Kyoto among others.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kikuchi Keigetsu","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50231443914999,"sku":"Z155","price":350.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/Z155.jpg?v=1762746915"},{"product_id":"antique-japanese-bento-picnic-box-made-of-a-gourd","title":"Antique Japanese Bento Picnic Box Made of a Gourd","description":"\u003cp\u003eA 4-chamber lunch box created using a singled large gourd, cut, hollowed and lacquered inside enclosed in a period kiri-wood presentation box. A pure and solid silver lid covers the sake bottle top, and the whole is secured by deer skin straps. It is 26.5 cm (10-1\/2 inches) diameter, 31 cm (12-1\/4 inches) tall and in excellent condition, dating from the early 20th century.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kura Monzen Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50258764824823,"sku":"K1062","price":850.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2025-11-1502.58.16.jpg?v=1770602902"},{"product_id":"antique-japanese-bamboo-bento-picnic-set-ー竹弁器","title":"Antique Japanese Bamboo Bento Picnic Set ー竹弁器","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn unprecedented set of bamboo containers made from large nodules into a twin tower picnic set enclosed in an outer case stored in a wooden box. One bamboo tube forms the sake bottle, lacquered with a transparent candy color on both ends with solid silver spout. The other is set of four containers with a lid, all similarly lacquered. They both come held in hemp rope nets, enclosed in a cloth bound lacquered wooden case bound with deer skin chords enclosed in a period wooden box. The bamboo is roughly 12 cm (5 inches) diameter, 21 cm tall and in excellent condition. The case is 24 x 14 x 23 cm (9-3\/4 x 5-1\/2 x 9-1\/4 inches) and all is in overall excellent condition, with minor wear typical of use.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kura Monzen Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50298836189431,"sku":"K1055","price":1250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2025-11-1502.17.28.jpg?v=1768207791"},{"product_id":"antique-japanese-carved-lacquered-kogo-incense-container","title":"Antique Japanese Carved Lacquered Kogo Incense Container","description":"\u003cp\u003eA wooden incense case carved with squirrels on grape vines on one side opposite Lingbi mushrooms, the two panels separated by deeply incised key frets dividing the two halves. 19th century, it is expertly crafted, lined with black lacquer, and comes enclosed in a period wooden box.  It is 9.5 cm (4 inches) diameter, 3 cm (just over 1 inch) tall and in overall fine condition, with hairline cracks between some of the key frets typical of age.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kura Monzen Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50299128381687,"sku":"K1063","price":1100.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2025-11-1505.39.37.jpg?v=1768962888"},{"product_id":"antique-bamboo-sencha-tea-set-ー中村-宗悦","title":"Antique Bamboo Sencha Tea Set ー中村 宗悦","description":"\u003cp\u003eA complete set of implements made for performing the Japanese Maccha Tea Ceremony by Nakamura Soetsu created almost entirely of bamboo signed Soetsu and enclosed in a cloth lined woven bamboo basket containing an inner tray. The set consists of five plates cut from bamboo knurls and a persimmon shaped container made from a gourd wrapped in a silk pouch. Also a Chawan tea bowl and Natsume tea container in a second pouch, a futaoki lid rest, whisk and whisk container, Shaku water scoop, Kogo incense container, and, of course, a teaspoon. Excepting the gourd, all is made of bamboo.  The persimmon shaped gourd container is 10 x 8.5 cm (4 x 3-1\/2 inches). The Sencha plates: 10.5 x 1.5 cm (just over 4 inches diameter). The Bamboo tea bowl is 9.5 cm (just under 4 inches) diameter, 8 cm tall. The Natsume Tea container: 5.5 x 6 cm (roughly 2-1\/2 inches tall), and the Basket: 24.5 x 16 x 20 cm (10 x 6-1\/4 x 8 inches). \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNakamura Soetsu was born in Ishikawa Prefecture in 1932. He began studying the traditional lacquer technique kyushitsu under the guidance of his father in 1946. This demanding method involves applying lacquer to a substrate using spatulas or brushes, requiring a high degree of precision and control. In 1967, he received instruction in the tea ceremony from Master Nakao Sowa of Tokuonji Temple, marking the beginning of his dedicated focus on creating utensils for tea practice. Over the following years, he was awarded numerous prizes at national lacquerware exhibitions. His contributions to the field were further recognized when he received the tea name Sokyo in 1987, and later, in 1992, became an associate instructor of tea ceremony—affirming his respected position within both the lacquer arts and the tea culture community.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nakamura Soetsu","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50299658273015,"sku":"K1034","price":3400.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2025-11-0503.46.13.jpg?v=1768871854"},{"product_id":"small-literati-ink-landscape-scroll-ー福田-古道人","title":"Small Literati Ink Landscape Scroll ー福田 古道人","description":"\u003cp\u003eA small convoluted landscape by Fukuda Kodojin recently restored to its original state. Ink on paper in a blue cloth border retaining the original ivory rollers (these will be changed for export). It is 28 x 111.5 cm (11 x 44 inches) and is in excellent condition.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFukuda Kodojin (1865-1944) was an eccentric self-taught artist, his status as a poet, calligrapher and literati artist has reached legendary status. Born at a time of great change (4 years before the final fall of the Edo Government), he lived through the westernization of Meiji, Taisho Democracy, the rise of Imperialism and final defeat of the Showa eras. He was part of a small group of artists existing outside conventional circles in pre-war Japan. He moved to a village outside of Kyoto in 1901, where he supported himself and his family by privately tutoring those who wished to learn Chinese-style poetry. Kodojin was simply a scholar. His poetry, painting, and calligraphy all stem from a life-long cultivation of the mind. He was said to have taken the time just before his death to destroy the large portion of his own remaining work, leaving only that which must have met some personal criteria. Kodōjin’s paintings and calligraphy survive mainly in private collections, but significant works can be found in the collections of the British Museum, Freer Sackler Gallery of the Smithsonian Institute, Honolulu Museum of Art, Houston Museum of Fine Arts, Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Museo Kaluz, New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, Portland Art Museum, Seattle Art Museum, St. Louis Art Museum, Tanabe City Museum of Art and Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Art among others including such well known Private collections as the Cowles Collection, Hakutakuan Collection, Manyoan Collection and Welch Collection. Twenty five paintings by the artist formed a private exhibition (from the Gitter-Yelen collection) at the New Orleans Museum of Art in 2000. In recent years, exhibitions such as The Last Master of the Literati Tradition: Fukuda Kodōjin (Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2023) have brought renewed attention to his achievement. For more on his life see the book Old Taoist, or Unexplored Avenues of Japanese Painting.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Fukuda Kodojin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50318355726583,"sku":"古50","price":1800.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/50.jpg?v=1764383793"},{"product_id":"delicate-literati-landscape-ー福田-古道人","title":"Delicate Literati Landscape ー福田 古道人","description":"\u003cp\u003eLurid Umbrella-shaped hills float like clouds beyond a lone sage standing in contemplation of the rain under a tree rendered in wet washes among a cluster of huts on this small delicate image by Fukuda Kodojin. Ink on paper in the original patterned silk border with white glazed ceramic rollers. The pale ichimonji patterned with clouds accentuates the scene. It is 24.5 x 158 cm (10 x 62-1\/4 inches) and in overall fine condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFukuda Kodojin (1865-1944) was an eccentric self-taught artist, his status as a poet, calligrapher and literati artist has reached legendary status. Born at a time of great change (4 years before the final fall of the Edo Government), he lived through the westernization of Meiji, Taisho Democracy, the rise of Imperialism and final defeat of the Showa eras. He was part of a small group of artists existing outside conventional circles in pre-war Japan. He moved to a village outside of Kyoto in 1901, where he supported himself and his family by privately tutoring those who wished to learn Chinese-style poetry. Kodojin was simply a scholar. His poetry, painting, and calligraphy all stem from a life-long cultivation of the mind. He was said to have taken the time just before his death to destroy the large portion of his own remaining work, leaving only that which must have met some personal criteria. Kodōjin’s paintings and calligraphy survive mainly in private collections, but significant works can be found in the collections of the British Museum, Freer Sackler Gallery of the Smithsonian Institute, Honolulu Museum of Art, Houston Museum of Fine Arts, Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Museo Kaluz, New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, Portland Art Museum, Seattle Art Museum, St. Louis Art Museum, Tanabe City Museum of Art and Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Art among others including such well known Private collections as the Cowles Collection, Hakutakuan Collection, Manyoan Collection and Welch Collection. Twenty five paintings by the artist formed a private exhibition (from the Gitter-Yelen collection) at the New Orleans Museum of Art in 2000. In recent years, exhibitions such as The Last Master of the Literati Tradition: Fukuda Kodōjin (Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2023) have brought renewed attention to his achievement. For more on his life see the book Old Taoist, or Unexplored Avenues of Japanese Painting.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Fukuda Kodojin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50318361231607,"sku":"古53","price":800.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/53.jpg?v=1764384341"},{"product_id":"tadpoles-blossom-1934-ink-painting-by-poet-ー臼田-亞浪-山櫻","title":"Tadpoles Blossom, 1934 Ink painting by Poet ー臼田 亞浪 \"山櫻\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eTadpoles scatter in the water like blossoms in the wind on this playful image by Usuda Aro in the original signed wooden box dated the 7th month of 1934 titled Yamazakura (Mountain Cherry). In the poem the artist compares tadpoles after the end of the rainy season to blossom petals scattered in the water. Ink on paper in a fresh green silk border with large bone rollers, the scroll is 38.5 x 203 cm and is in overall fine condition. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUsuda Aro (1879–1951) was a pioneering haiku poet of the Meiji through Shōwa periods whose independent vision helped reshape modern haiku. Born in Komoro in Nagano Prefecture in 1879, he studied at Komoro Gijuku before graduating from the Wafutsu Law School (now Hōsei University) in 1904. During his student years he received instruction in tanka from Yosano Tekkan and in haiku from Takahama Kyoshi, influences that grounded him in both classical and modern verse. After working as a reporter for the Telegraph News Agency and later as editor-in-chief of the Yokohama Trade Newspaper, he joined the Yamato Shimbun. In 1915 he emerged on the national haiku stage with the founding of the journal Shakunage (Rhododendron), co-established with Ōsuga Otsuji, while also serving as a selector for newspapers such as the Shinano Mainichi. A vocal critic of both Kyoshi’s Hototogisu school and Kawahigashi Hekigotō’s New Trend haiku, Usuda called for a fundamental reform of the haiku world. Looking to the examples of Matsuo Basho and Uejima Onitsura, he asserted that authentic haiku arises from direct engagement with nature, aspiring to create poems that embodied a distinctly Japanese aesthetic rooted in lived experience. Resigning from the Yamato Shimbun in 1916, he devoted himself fully to composition. Though childless, he adopted his six-year-old niece in 1919 after the death of his sister. A rupture with his co-founder Otsuji in 1918 marked a turning point, yet Shakunage remained central to his activity until the Tokyo air raids of March 10, 1945 destroyed its printing house, forcing a temporary suspension. Usuda evacuated with his family to Nishitama, later relocating the printing operations to Nagano City and reviving Shakunage in 1946, though this same year brought the death of his wife. He continued to write and mentor until his death from a cerebral hemorrhage in 1951 at the age of seventy-three. Through Shakunage, he fostered a significant circle of disciples—among them Ōno Rinka, Shinohara Bon, Kuryū Sumio, and Tanaka Yasuke—leaving a lasting imprint on twentieth-century haiku.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Usuda Aro","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50340703830263,"sku":"F154","price":900.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/F154.jpg?v=1768794106"},{"product_id":"scholars-hut-in-bamboo-grove-ー福田-古道人","title":"Scholars Hut in Bamboo Grove ー福田 古道人","description":"\u003cp\u003eA sparse image of a humble thatched hut emanating a welcoming soft pink glow by Literatus Fukuda Kodojin. Ink on paper in the original patterned silk border with a touch of luxury in the ichimonji fabric. It features black lacquered wooden rollers and comes enclosed in a wooden box. The scroll is 39 x 131 cm (19-1\/2 x 51 5⁄8 inches) and is in overall fine, original condition, with minor wrinkles.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFukuda Kodojin (1865-1944) was an eccentric self-taught artist, his status as a poet, calligrapher and literati artist has reached legendary status. Born at a time of great change (4 years before the final fall of the Edo Government), he lived through the westernization of Meiji, Taisho Democracy, the rise of Imperialism and final defeat of the Showa eras. He was part of a small group of artists existing outside conventional circles in pre-war Japan. He moved to a village outside of Kyoto in 1901, where he supported himself and his family by privately tutoring those who wished to learn Chinese-style poetry. Kodojin was simply a scholar. His poetry, painting, and calligraphy all stem from a life-long cultivation of the mind. He was said to have taken the time just before his death to destroy the large portion of his own remaining work, leaving only that which must have met some personal criteria. Kodōjin’s paintings and calligraphy survive mainly in private collections, but significant works can be found in the collections of the British Museum, Freer Sackler Gallery of the Smithsonian Institute, Honolulu Museum of Art, Houston Museum of Fine Arts, Kumamoto Prefectural Museum of Art, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Museo Kaluz, New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, Portland Art Museum, Seattle Art Museum, St. Louis Art Museum, Tanabe City Museum of Art and Wakayama Prefectural Museum of Art among others including such well known Private collections as the Cowles Collection, Hakutakuan Collection, Manyoan Collection and Welch Collection. Twenty five paintings by the artist formed a private exhibition (from the Gitter-Yelen collection) at the New Orleans Museum of Art in 2000. In recent years, exhibitions such as The Last Master of the Literati Tradition: Fukuda Kodōjin (Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2023) have brought renewed attention to his achievement. For more on his life see the book Old Taoist, or Unexplored Avenues of Japanese Painting.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Fukuda Kodojin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50397368156407,"sku":"古49","price":1350.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/49.jpg?v=1767361934"},{"product_id":"antique-japanese-fossilized-suzuri-ishi-ink-stone","title":"Antique Japanese Fossilized Suzuri Ishi Ink Stone","description":"\u003cp\u003eI have never seen before a Suzuri Ink-grinding stone made from slate containing fossilized sea shells. This is a very unusual item incorporating the shells themselves into the design, the ink well is cut deep into the surface, covered by a beautifully carved rosewood cover. The stone comes in an ancient black lacquered wooden box, undeniably Edo period.  The stone is 20 x 26 x 8.5 cm (8 x 10-1\/2 x 3-1\/2 inches) and is in excellent condition. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kura Monzen Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50407645020407,"sku":"K1151","price":1500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2025-12-2302.57.50.jpg?v=1767751410"},{"product_id":"auspicious-bats-by-buddhist-nun-ー大石-順教","title":"Auspicious Bats by Buddhist Nun ー大石 順教","description":"\u003cp\u003eVery unusual, 2 bats patrol the night sky by the Buddhist Nun Oishi Junkyo enclosed in a period wooden box. Ink on paper freshly remounted in dark cloth with just a bead of red and gold piping around the image and features black lacquered wooden rollers. It is 38.3 x 192 cm (15 x 75-1\/2 inches) and is in excellent condition.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBats are auspicious in Asian lore because in China, the word for bat is a homophone for good fortune. This phonetic overlap turned the bat into a visual shorthand for luck. Bats live long lives relative to their size and roost in groups, making them symbols of longevity, family continuity and protective abundance. A house “visited” by bats was traditionally considered blessed, not cursed. Unlike Western folklore East Asian cosmology places them comfortably within yin for they are nocturnal, quiet and associated with caves, dusk, and hidden places. Yin is not negative—it complements yang. Bats therefore signify cosmic balance and harmony between visible and invisible worlds. They are blessings that arrive quietly—seen only by those paying attention.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJunkyo’s life is a triumph over tragedy.  Born into a low family, she was sent to a tea house where she became an apprentice Geisha.  In a famous incident, the Tea House owner in a drunken rage murdered 5 of the Geisha, and cut off both of Junkyo’s arms.  She survived.  Becoming then a teller of stories and singer, she one day saw a bird feeding her young, and realized she could paint if she used her mouth to hold the brush.  She enrolled into a studio, and became an accomplished painter in the Nihonga tradition.  She then married and had two children, but later divorced, raising the two children alone.  She became a nun, and opened a counseling\/self-help center for the disabled.  This was the war years, and the midst of Japan’s industrial revolution.  Both mishaps in the machinations of industry and battle kept her half-way house filled with people in need.  After the war she established a temple, and continued her philanthropic work.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Oishi Junkyo","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50485879701751,"sku":"F169","price":1200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/F169.jpg?v=1770697010"},{"product_id":"antique-lotus-leaf-shaped-carved-wood-covered-bowl","title":"Antique Lotus-leaf-shaped Carved Wood Covered Bowl","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn exquisite basin carved of soft wood in the shape of a curling lotus leaf with another overlapping as the lid, a small water crab crawling inside signed underneath and enclosed in a period wooden box titled Mokucho Kayo-gata Kashiki. It is 15 x 10.5 x 5 cm (6 x 4 x 2 inches) and is in excellent condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kura Monzen Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50497634337015,"sku":"K1136","price":1200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2025-12-2108.25.36.jpg?v=1771206289"},{"product_id":"large-carved-wood-habon-lotus-leaf-tea-tray-by-senseki","title":"Large Carved Wood Habon Lotus Leaf Tea Tray by Senseki","description":"\u003cp\u003eA large water crab in full relief trundles across the dilapidated surface of this lotus leaf shaped tray signed Senseki and enclosed in a modern wooden collectors box.  The tray, dating from the first half of the 20th century, is 48 x 33 x 4.5 cm (19 x 13 x just less than 2 inches) and is in excellent condition. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kura Monzen Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50514316034295,"sku":"K1059","price":1800.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2025-11-1501.13.42.jpg?v=1771899091"},{"product_id":"antique-japanese-tea-room-bamboo-hanging-vase","title":"Antique Japanese Tea Room Bamboo Hanging Vase","description":"\u003cp\u003eA contorted shaft of bamboo taken from the root pierced with a circular window for flower display and made to either stand or be hung from the wall inscribed with a brief verse in red lacquer followed by a Kao-signature on back enclosed in a fine kiri-wood storage box. It is 9.5 x 5.8 x 25 cm (4 x 2 x 10 inches) and is in excellent condition. An excellent example of the wabi-sabi aesthetic which defines the humble atmosphere of the Japanese Maccha Tea Ceremony and is environs. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kura Monzen Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50567410286839,"sku":"K1153","price":750.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2025-12-2302.54.10.jpg?v=1773191657"},{"product_id":"beautiful-chinese-scholar-art-root-wood-stand","title":"Beautiful Chinese Scholar Art Root Wood Stand","description":"\u003cp\u003eA beautiful Chinese style rosewood table carved to form a cluster of roots in dark red color. It is 25 x 23 x 22 cm (10 x 9 x 9 inches) and is in overall excellent condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kura Monzen Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50602367680759,"sku":"K1286","price":850.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2026-01-3118.12.28.jpg?v=1773629636"},{"product_id":"antique-japanese-rootwood-turtle-okimono","title":"Antique Japanese Rootwood Turtle Okimono","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn exquisite image of a Minogame sea turtle covered in long “hair” as typically envisioned by Japanese scholar artists, representing exceptionally long life. The “hair” is in fact the natural surface of the wood, taken from a burl or part of a root cluster. Beneath one can see the core of the wood emanating outward in rings. It is 21 x 14.5 x 7 cm (8-1\/4 x 5-3\/4 x 3 inches) and is in excellent condition, enclosed in a custom made kiri-wood storage box. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kura Monzen Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50618067026167,"sku":"K1269","price":1500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2026-01-2015.29.06.jpg?v=1774249747"},{"product_id":"antique-japanese-bamboo-sencha-teapot-and-dish","title":"Antique Japanese Bamboo Sencha Teapot and Dish","description":"\u003cp\u003eA lovely age worn tea pot and tray espousing the Japanese reverence for natural materials cut from the root of a bamboo enclosed in an old wooden box titled Chikkon Jidai Binshiki Kyusu (Ancient Tea Pot and Stand of Bamboo Root). A tiny water crab crawls over the curling leaf edge of the Binshiki tray. The tea pot is 9 x 10 x 7.5 cm (3-1\/2 x 4 x 3 inches) and in excellent condition. The Binshiki tray is 11 x 12 x 3.5 cm (4-1\/2 x 4-3\/4 x 1-1\/2 inches). There is slight wear to the edges of the tray. The importance of Sencha in the late Edo and Meiji periods cannot be overlooked, and has been studied in depth in the book: Tea of the Sages, the Art of Sencha by Patricia Jane Graham. A highly recommendable read.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kura Monzen Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50618083705079,"sku":"K1133","price":1500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2026-03-1616.42.37.jpg?v=1774250059"},{"product_id":"antique-japanese-lotus-leaf-shaped-carved-wood-tray","title":"Antique Japanese Lotus Leaf-shaped Carved Wood tray","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn elegantly crafted leaf carved from a single block of dark wood into the shape of a curling lotus leaf dating from the early 20th century. It is 39 x 12 x 7.5 cm (15-1\/2 x 5 x 3 inches) and is in excellent condition. This type of tray was carved as decoration and for use in the preparation and service of Sencha steeped tea and beautifully aligns with that aesthetic.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kura Monzen Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50651998847223,"sku":"K1297","price":1050.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2026-03-1616.13.44.jpg?v=1775008559"},{"product_id":"antique-japanese-bamboo-incense-stick-case","title":"Antique Japanese Bamboo Incense Stick Case","description":"\u003cp\u003eA long curving bamboo pole rises from the roots to a stoppered end made for containing incense sticks, known in Japanese as a Senko-zutsu. It is 52 cm (20 inches) long and in fine condition, dating from the early 20th century.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kura Monzen Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50660631806199,"sku":"SA008","price":300.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2024-09-2004.27.04.jpg?v=1775272281"},{"product_id":"unusual-natural-wood-hanging-fish-shaped-door-knock","title":"Unusual Natural Wood Hanging Fish-shaped Door Knock","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn exquisite natural snag of wood lovingly polished in the shape of a fish to act as a traditional door knock suspended by a well worn and sun bleached green silk chord.  It is 53 x 10 x 17.5 cm (21 x 4 x 7 inches) and in overall fine condition. Japanese Door Knockers are usually in the shape of a koi (carp), this one, however, I believe is in the shape of a celebratory Tai (Sea Bream).  This would have been hung outside the front door or gate, under the eaves, with a small wooden mallet.  A guest would strike the wooden surface with the mallet to announce their arrival and or call the occupant to the door. The surface is abraded with hammer strike marks, almost like the scales of the fish itself. The essence of wabi-sabi lies in its celebration of imperfection, impermanence, and the understated beauty of the natural world. Rooted in Japanese aesthetics and deeply influenced by Zen Buddhism, wabi-sabi invites a perspective that finds harmony and peace in irregularities, asymmetry, and rough textures.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRed Tai is prized both for its bright color, delicate flavor and for its traditional use as an auspicious food often served at New Year's and festive occasions such as weddings due to the fact its name is a homonym for celebration (Medetai).\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kura Monzen Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50660655890679,"sku":"SA011","price":300.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2024-09-2003.50.59.jpg?v=1775272652"},{"product_id":"incredible-kurinuki-carved-bamboo-koro-incense-burner","title":"Incredible Kurinuki Carved Bamboo Koro Incense Burner","description":"\u003cp\u003eCarved from a single section of bamboo, this remarkable incense burner reveals an extraordinary command of both material and void. The form rises in softly tiered lobes, its surface worked to a deep, time-softened patina that accentuates the organic density of the bamboo. At its crown, an openwork medallion centers on the manjirushi—an ancient symbol of continuity and auspicious eternity—encircled by scrolling floral arabesques that unfold with rhythmic precision. The body and lid are intricately pierced, the windows cut through the natural membranes of the bamboo itself, allowing air and fragrance to circulate while preserving the structural integrity of the form. The result is not merely decorative, but atmospheric: a vessel that breathes. Light, smoke, and shadow move through its lattice, activating the object in use and transforming it into a living conduit between interior and exterior space. It is 15 cm (6 inches) wide, 7.8 cm (3 inches) tall and in perfect condition and comes in a custom made kiri-wood box.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kura Monzen Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50662120620279,"sku":"K1308","price":2300.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2026-03-1613.46.00.jpg?v=1775355030"},{"product_id":"suiseki-spirit-stone-mountain-range","title":"Suiseki Spirit Stone Mountain Range","description":"\u003cp\u003eA beautiful mountain range inset into a red-hardwood base beautifully carved to mimic the natural undulations of the landscape. It is 33 x 13 x 7 cm (13 x 5 x 3 inches) and is in excellent condition.  \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kura Monzen Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50676296483063,"sku":"SA036","price":350.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2024-12-2602.48.45copy.jpg?v=1775879943"},{"product_id":"bamboo-sencha-tea-pot-with-silver-clasps","title":"Bamboo Sencha Tea Pot with Silver Clasps","description":"\u003cp\u003eA small tea pot cut from a knurl of bamboo featuring five silver staples in the node lid. It has a beautiful caramel patina from years of love and use, with heat bleaching on the inside from use and a pale wash like a waterfall from the spout.  It is 5.7 x 6.7 x 5.5 cm (roughly 2 to 3 inches in all dimensions), dating from the late 19th to early 20th centuries and comes in a wooden box. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kura Monzen Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50676299071735,"sku":"SA038","price":750.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2025-01-1607.31.33copy.jpg?v=1775880400"},{"product_id":"small-antique-root-wood-bonsai-tree-stand","title":"Small Antique Root-wood Bonsai Tree Stand","description":"\u003cp\u003eA rootwood stand in dark patina hollowed out to accept a Bonsai tree or incense burner dating from the early 20th century.  It is 26.5 x 16 x 11.5 cm (10-1\/2 x 6-1\/2 x 4-1\/2 inches) and is in overall excellent condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kura Monzen Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50692748902647,"sku":"SA024","price":320.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2024-09-1904.13.18copy.jpg?v=1776482356"},{"product_id":"antique-japanese-scholar-art-root-wood-nyoi","title":"Antique Japanese Scholar Art Root-Wood Nyoi","description":"\u003cp\u003eA root wood nyoi intimating Reishi mushrooms taken from a lovingly polished burl of root.  It is 30 cm (12 inches) long and in excellent condition, dating from the early 20th century.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNyoi (Chinese Ruyi) is a ceremonial scepter or talisman used by and seen in Buddhist and Daoist art a cultural references.  It likely originated from Sanskrit anuruddha \"a ceremonial scepter\" used by Buddhist monks in India, who later brought the concept to China where it became a symbol of authority.  There it blended with the back-scratcher, and there is an interesting story behind that.  As a Buddhist monk was not meant to marry, he would forsake having children.  The Back Scratcher (Mago-no-Te) literally translates as the “Hand of the Grandchild”.  As a monk would have no grandchildren, thus no one to scratch his back or ease his old age, the spirits of those that were not born would be embodied in the scepter.  It is one of the most precious objects to a priest.  It is often seen also with literati and nobles who held Nyoi during social occasions, and there seems no doubt that the original function was that of a scepter qualifying the holder to \"take the floor, similar to the fly whisk or fan.  In art they often appear as attributes of Buddhist saints and Daoist immortals.  Although Chinese Ruyi are often of precious materials such as jade, precious metals and or are jewel encrusted, the Japanese emphasis on frugality and self-effacement promotes an aesthetic of simple, unadorned natural objects, often of wood or bamboo. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kura Monzen Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50692751622391,"sku":"SA007","price":1400.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2024-09-2408.23.51copy.jpg?v=1776482547"},{"product_id":"tokkuri-sake-flask-the-night-storm-ー大田垣-蓮月-酒壺","title":"Tokkuri Sake Flask, The Night Storm… ー大田垣 蓮月 \"酒壺\"","description":"\u003cp\u003eA tokkuri sake flask by Otagaki Rengetsu marked with a winter poem reading:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe night storm has covered... \/ Yoarashi mo uzumore hate te\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003ethe pines of Mount Toba where white birds fly; \/ shiratori no Tobayamamatsu ni\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eOh the gathering snow... \/ tsumoru yuki kana.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is 7.5 cm (3 inches) diameter, 10.4 cm (4 inches) tall and in excellent condition\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOtagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875) was born into a samurai family, she was adopted into the Otagaki family soon after birth, and served as a lady in waiting in Kameoka Castle in her formative years, where she received an education worthy of a Lady of means. Reputed to be incredibly beautiful, she was married and bore three children; however, her husband and all children died before she was twenty. Remarried she bore another daughter, however that child too perished and her husband died while she was just 32. Inconsolable, she cut off her hair to join the nunnery at Chion-in Temple, where she renounced the world and received the name Rengetsu (Lotus Moon). However, this was not the end, but only the beginning of a career as artist and poet which would propel her to the top of the 19th century Japan literati art world.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Otagaki Rengetsu","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50702167408887,"sku":"K1302","price":1500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2026-03-1613.59.23.jpg?v=1776826317"},{"product_id":"root-wood-stand","title":"Root-Wood Stand","description":"\u003cp\u003eA polished splinter of shattered wood which has grown into a natural basin into which has been set a polished basin upon which can be stood a Buddhist figure for contemplation.  It is 8.5 x 10 x 23 cm (3-12 x 4 x 9 inches) and is in excellent condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kura Monzen Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50712066687223,"sku":"SA029","price":275.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2024-09-2407.59.21copy.jpg?v=1777088726"},{"product_id":"spectacular-chinese-scholar-art-root-wood-stand","title":"Spectacular Chinese Scholar Art Root Wood Stand","description":"\u003cp\u003eA breathtaking low table of birds-eyed burl carved into the shape of a cluster of roots enclosed in an age darkened wooden box titled Budo-Tennen Moku-sei Bon and dated inside Meiji 42 (1910). Top quality, it is 62.5 x 23 x 4 cm (25 x 9 x 1-1\/2 inches) and is in perfect condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kura Monzen Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50716810838263,"sku":"K1285","price":2800.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2026-02-0217.07.54.jpg?v=1778989353"},{"product_id":"antique-japanese-burl-wood-deer-sculpture","title":"Antique Japanese Burl-Wood Deer Sculpture","description":"\u003cp\u003eA large root-wood sculpture of a resting stag lovingly modeled and polished with a honey-colored patina.  It is 27.5 x 15 x 25.5 cm (11 x 6 x 10 inches).  The right antler has been broken, otherwise is in excellent condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kura Monzen Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50725427478775,"sku":"SA023","price":900.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2024-09-1904.05.55copy.jpg?v=1777603049"},{"product_id":"antique-lotus-shaped-boxwood-nyoi-ー黄陽木霊芝如意","title":"Antique Lotus Shaped Boxwood Nyoi ー黄陽木霊芝如意","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn exquisite Nyoi in the shape of a decaying lotus leaf carved of Tsuge (boxwood) with a lovely red-yellow patina enclosed in a wooden box titled Koyoboku Reishi-nyoi. A netsuke in the shape of a Mokugyo prayer drum dangled from a silk chord tied about the haft. It is 30.5 cm (12 inches) long and in excellent condition.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNyoi (Chinese Ruyi) is a ceremonial scepter or talisman used by and seen in Buddhist and Daoist art an cultural references.  It likely originated from Sanskrit anuruddha \"a ceremonial scepter\" used by Buddhist monks in India, who later brought the concept to China where it became a symbol of authority.  There it blended with the back-scratcher, and there is an interesting story behind that.  As a Buddhist monk was not meant to marry, he would forsake having children.  The Back Scratcher (Mago-no-Te) literally translates as the “Hand of the Grandchild”.  As a monk would have no grandchildren, thus no one to scratch his back or ease his old age, the spirits of those that were not born would be embodied in the scepter.  It is one of the most precious objects to a priest.  It is often seen also with literati and nobles who held Nyoi during social occasions, and there seems no doubt that the original function was that of a scepter qualifying the holder to \"take the floor, similar to the fly whisk or fan.  In art they often appear as attributes of Buddhist saints and Daoist immortals.  Although Chinese Ruyi are often of precious materials such as jade, precious metals and or are jewel encrusted, the Japanese emphasis on frugality and self-effacement promotes an aesthetic of simple, unadorned natural objects, often of wood or bamboo. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kura Monzen Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50725435015415,"sku":"SA005","price":2800.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2024-09-2305.38.37copy.jpg?v=1777603486"},{"product_id":"ishigami-root-wood-kannon-guanyin-natural-sculpture","title":"Ishigami Root-Wood Kannon (Guanyin) Natural Sculpture","description":"\u003cp\u003eA very unusual polished gnurl of rootwood heavily embedded with black stones. The natural root has grown through these stones, and where it was unable to push them out of the way, has absorbed them into the flesh of the tree. This type of object is called Ishi-daku or Ishigami, and reflects the deep rooted Japanese appreciation for natural phenomena. It is 29 cm (just less than 1 foot) tall and in excellent condition.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKannon (観音), known as Guanyin in Chinese and Avalokiteśvara in Sanskrit, is a revered figure in East Asian Buddhism. Kannon is the Bodhisattva of Compassion, embodying the qualities of mercy, kindness, and benevolence. The name \"Kannon\" derives from the Japanese pronunciation of Kan'on, meaning \"One Who Perceives the Sounds (or Cries) of the World,\" emphasizing the bodhisattva's role in listening to the suffering of sentient beings and responding to their needs. Kannon is widely worshiped in Japan and is central to numerous temples, such as the famous Kiyomizudera in Kyoto and Sensoji in Tokyo. Kannon is a spiritual figure that inspires hope and solace through the promise of unending compassion. In Japanese Buddhism, Kannon's role as a protector and savior transcends religious boundaries, becoming a universal symbol of mercy and kindness.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kura Monzen Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50755362324727,"sku":"SA028","price":1500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2024-09-2004.02.20copy_fb11640d-ee11-4a2b-9ec0-596f5ae5ef70.jpg?v=1778292206"},{"product_id":"spectacular-natural-bowl-of-umimatsu-black-coral","title":"Spectacular Natural Bowl of Umimatsu Black Coral","description":"\u003cp\u003eA natural bowl made from the root of Umimatsu black coral measuring 19 x 16.5 x 7 cm (7-1\/2 x 6-1\/2 x 2-3\/4 inches) in excellent condition, enclosed in a dilapidated wooden box bearing the stylized Ka-o signature of a tea master with the title Favored by Rikkyu.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUmimatsu is a species of black coral with dense texture, concentric growth rings, and amber [and redish] colored inclusions in the black material. According to Michael Birch “The literal translation of umimatsu is ‘sea pine,’ and it is also popularly described as ‘black coral.’ True coral, however, is a hard calcareous substance secreted by marine polyps for habitation. Umimatsu, on the other hand is a colony of keratinous antipatharian marine organisms. Keratin is a nitrogenous substance which forms the basis of horns, nails, and claws.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe importance of natural forms and materials in the Japanese scholar aesthetic lies in their ability to evoke simplicity, imperfection, and a deep connection to nature. These principles are central to traditional Japanese art, philosophy, and culture. The Japanese scholar aesthetic was heavily influenced by Chinese literati culture, which emphasized natural materials, and spontaneity as reflections of inner virtue and intellectual pursuits. Scholars sought modest, unadorned environments and objects that encouraged contemplation and a harmonious relationship with nature. Natural materials and forms symbolized a rejection of extravagance, aligning with the introspective, ascetic values of scholarly life. This blended with the Japanese ideals of Wabi-sabi, reverence for that which is transient. Natural forms and materials are integral to the wabi aesthetic which serve as a reminder of life's transient beauty and foster a sense of harmony between humans and nature.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kura Monzen Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50755364225271,"sku":"SA035","price":500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2024-11-3005.52.27copy.jpg?v=1778292327"},{"product_id":"natural-hanging-wood-board","title":"Natural Hanging Wood Board","description":"\u003cp\u003eA dramatic natural wood hanging in the form of a frame with striking growths naturally forming about the window. It is 51 x 35 x 11cm (20-1\/2 x 14 x 4 inches) and is in overall excellent condition.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kura Monzen Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50786172698871,"sku":"SA040","price":550.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2025-01-2200.52.35copy.jpg?v=1778984523"},{"product_id":"antique-cloud-shaped-root-wood-scholars-stand","title":"Antique Cloud Shaped Root-wood Scholars Stand","description":"\u003cp\u003eA natural wood stand forming swirling clouds enclosed in an age darkened wooden box titled Kashiwa Joku Kumo-gata Dai. Kashiwa is the Japanese name for the Daimyo-Oak, a tree native to East Asia (Japan, Korea and China). The stand is 26 x 22 x 11 cm (10-1\/4 x 9 x 4-1\/4 inches) and is in overall fine condition.  Inside the box lid It came from the collection of the Oda family.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kura Monzen Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50786173092087,"sku":"K952","price":650.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2025-08-3006.21.40_2.jpg?v=1778984777"},{"product_id":"hermit-of-three-pleasures-gourd-flask-ー三楽仙史","title":"Hermit of Three Pleasures Gourd Flask ー三楽仙史","description":"\u003cp\u003eA goose-like neck stretches away from this fattened gourd bottle enclosed in a padded old kiri-wood display box titled Suito and signed by Sanraku Senshi (Hermit of Three Pleasures). About the neck is a silk chord tied to a Zougei ring. Beautifully patinated from age and care, it is 24 cm (9-1\/2 inches) long and in excellent condition.  \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kura Monzen Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50797641761015,"sku":"SA015","price":500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/files\/2024-09-2407.54.43copy2.jpg?v=1779414907"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0658\/7472\/3063\/collections\/2024-05-1005.18.46copy.jpg?v=1766740237","url":"https:\/\/kuramonzen.com\/collections\/scholar-art.oembed?page=2","provider":"Kura Monzen Gallery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}