So, we found this Buddha in a little shop here in town, and he seems old. He's got some figures on him that we don't understand, and some kanji on his base that we would love to know what it says! I realize that this is a HUGE community, and someone might actually recognize him (we do know that he is Hotei, the Laughing Buddha), and may even understand kanji. Link to photo set Thanks!
Are the figures carved in to it Japanese? And, are they carved in to the bottom of it? If so, it may be a netsuke. They're not usually painted but netsuke's can be very valuable.
It's cast bronze or brass... not sure which. Has some sort of slag inside that rattles... it's all one piece. The inscription seems part of the casting. Was told last night that the "birds" are bats... a symbol of prosperity, apparently. I don't know if it is Chinese or Japanese.
Rae Vynn, Hotei-sama (we add sama at the end of dieties and gods or any one we look up to) is indeed the bringer of happiness and the Japanese style kanji reads wa-ki-sei-zai roughly meaning that everyone's peaceful energy together is the treasure of life. It is very apropo for today as we need to repair this world. We share the earth. Be friends with everyone and together we can all be happy. Yes we can. I might add that humans are the onlly species that are destroying this planet. Animals are our friends. Be kind to animals. BTW netsuke is always ivory and will not be fully painted. Hope that helps.
Thank you! I love that! As a truly poor excuse for a Buddhist, I send intention out, as part of my sporadic meditations, that all beings may be happy, may be peaceful, and may be delivered from their suffering and Sankara. I didn't know about -sama... thank you.
Yes, I think so. Especially, if you own a company or restaurant, it watches the busuness going well. Ken@Japan
