[SENJAFUDA OF A TATTOOED SAMURAI, A COLOR WOODBLOCK PRINTED TALISMAN.]

[SENJAFUDA.]

Published by

[Tokyo n.d. ca 1870's, n.p.]. Small woodblock printed sheet: 5.5 x 16.2 cm., print size: 4.6 x 14 cm., excellent color printing, fine registry & impression, a miniature gem, verso blank, small invisible mends on 2 corners, verso clean. RARE . *** **** *** . . A TATTOOED FIREMAN WITH "CHONMAGE" HAIR STYLE . . . THE TATTOO IS A FULL UPPER BODY & BACK . . . ILLUSTRATING "TARA," FEMALE DEITY OF COMPASSION . . .WITH THE KANJI TATTOOED ON HIS BACK: "MAM MYO HO REN GEKYO" . . *** WHAT IS A CHONMAGE HAIR STYLE: . The "Chonmage" is a type of traditional Japanese "topknot" haircut worn by men. It is most commonly associated with the Edo period [1603-1867], commonly worn by Samurai, merchants, Sumo wrestlers & even commoners. This man wears the traditional "Chonmage" of the Samurai class. . His back and upper body is tattooed with a Japanese version of the Indian & Buddhist deity "TARA, or "Tara Bosatsu" in Japanese. . TARA is a female deity in both Hinduism and Buddhism who personifies compassion and offers salvation from the suffering of rebirth and death. She is thought to have been born of empathy for the suffering world and is regularly invoked for protection, guidance and deliverance from difficult situations. . In the upper right corner of the tattoo are red Kanji reading the standard Buddhist chant: "MAM MYO HO REN GEKYO": ["Devotion to the Mystic Law of the Lotus Sutra" or "Glory to the Dharma of the Lotus Sutra".]" . *** The artist's name begins with "Ko" or "Furu," balance is unr ad. . *** WHAT IS A JAPANESE O-FUDA: . Paper charms have been used to attract good luck or ward off misfortune for millennia, and who wouldn't want to enter the other world without a bundle to bank? Paper charms, whether used as talismans to encourage good fortune or to prevent harm, have a millennia-long history in Chinese society. . The Japanese have been using this kind of 'protection' for millennia. . A talisman is made out of various materials such as paper, wood, cloth or metal. O-Fuda are commonly found in both Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples and are considered to be imbued with the power of the deities [Kami] or Buddhist figures revered therein. . Certain kinds of O-Fuda are intended for a specific purpose, such as protection against calamity or misfortune, safety within the home, or finding love) and may be kept on one's person or placed on other areas of the home, such as gates, doorways, kitchens, or ceilings. . Paper O-Fuda may also be referred to as "Kamifuda." . A specific type of O-Fuda is a talisman issued by a Shinto shrine on which is written the name of the shrine or its enshrined Kami and stamped with the shrine's seal. . In a similar vein, Buddhist O-Fuda are regarded as imbued with the spirit and the virtue of Buddha, Bodhisattvas, or other revered figures of the Buddhist pantheon. . *** The traditional use of O-Fuda since Meiji times [1867] has been the favorite talisman of blue collar workers, laborers and other tradesmen. They have executed elaborate color woodblock printed examples which are pasted on the entrance of their places of work, on vehicles, and other haunts commonly visited. It is a kind of superstitious practice, meaning simply this kind of 'insurance' against bad luck and 'tempting the gods' is counteracted by visibly placing these miniature works of art in conspicuous places around the home, work place and related items. . Unions and brotherhoods also endorse and even pay for the stunning and fabulously elaborately designed, decorated and skillfully printed original woodblock prints using their name [Kumi-ai] [group] names. . Expense is not considered in the equation of gaining " Good Luck" for the creating and printing of these revered and highly respected pieces of printed paper. . *** Color photos are posted to our website. . *** CONDITION: This is a very clean example, with excellent color registry & impression, verso blank, no issues. The lower left and upper right corners were mended with Washi [handma. Seller Inventory # 42134301

Bibliographic Details

Title: [SENJAFUDA OF A TATTOOED SAMURAI, A COLOR ...