japanese antique clay hotei god statue, edo era japanese clay god

Love Japanese Style Like We Do

A very old Fushimi tsuchi ningyo, or Fushimi clay doll. Clay dolls were the oldest form of dolls made in Japan. The doll is in the shape of Hotei, one of the seven lucky gods of Japan. Hotei is seen as the god of contentment. He carries a big magical cloth bag, which never empties. His large belly protrudes over his attire and his face is always covered in a big smile.

Fushimi dolls started to be produced in the Edo period. They were made from a split mold, fired, painted in a kind of white chalk and then given form and life with colorful mineral pigment paints. They were made of a bisque clay and were hollow inside.

These Hotei dolls come with a such an interesting story. Way back when people who purchased a Fushimi Hotei clay doll meet with bad luck, they broke the doll and threw it in a river. If they did not meet with bad luck, they began to collect dolls, buying one doll each year, with each new doll being slightly bigger in size. The dolls were lined up on the kamidana (god shelf) where daily prayers were made. Once seven Hotei figures had been collected they were dedicated to an Inari Shrine in appreciation of the seven years of uneventful peace and good luck. Then, people started purchasing the dolls all over again! If something unpleasant or a disaster happened during the collection time they would again throw all the statues in a river or bring them back to the Shrine and begin all over again with the smallest statue.

This lucky Fushimi hotei clay doll, is in good structural condition. Over the years accumulated dust and soot from being placed on the kamidana in the kitchen, and fading of the mineral paint has left the figure almost totally gray, giving him a beautiful rustic, wabi sabi feel; a much appreciated condition in Japan. A lovely piece of old Japanese mingei and a rare item these days.

- measures around 37.5 cm (14.7”) tall x 27 cm (10.6”) across x 15 cm (6”) deep.
- weighs 1,550 gm.

(listing for clay doll only)

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We list pieces we feel are worthy of display. There may be scratches, dents, fading and signs of wear and tear. We try to explain the condition of each item exactly, but may miss something.

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FUSHIMI CLAY DOLLS
Fushimi clay dolls were first made in the Fushimi area from the end of the Momoyama (1573-1615) to Edo (1615-1868) Era. They were made using the clay of Mt Inari near Fushimi Inari Shrine and sold and carried all over the country as lucky charms. It was said, if Fushimi dolls were broken, children’s diseases would be healed and if the pieces were sown in fields it would ensure a good harvest. About 20 kilns specialized in their production in the Meiji (1868-1912) Era, but during the Showa (1926-1989) Era they continued to close until only a few remain at present.

Originally Fushimi figures were viewed as everyday objects and children’s toys and were used for moral education using characters from Japanese folklore. They were also thought to possess religious and spiritual meaning, and Shinto deities were also produced.

Clay figurines are made in split molds, fired in a kiln, and then decorated with white chalk pigment (gofun) and colored mineral pigments. There are about 2,000 known types of molds. Many of the molds have been used since the Edo period (1615-1869).

HOTEI
Hotei is one of Japan’s Seven Lucky Gods and is the god of contentment and happiness. He has a very cheerful face and a large protruding belly. He is known outside of Japan as the Fat Buddha or the Happy Buddha. He usually carries a "Nunobukuro" (cloth bag) over his back. This is a magical bag and one that never empties. From his sack, Hotei cheerfully gives out items to those in need.

In Japanese "Ho Tei" actually means cloth bag. As well as carrying a cloth bag, Hotel can be seen holding a Chinese fan called an "Oogi". This is said to be a wish fulfilling fan. The same type of fan was used by the aristocracy in feudal times to indicate to workers that their requests had been granted.

The god Hotei was supposedly an actual Chinese Buddhist monk who lived in the 10th century in China. Apparently, this monk had a large protruding stomach which is a defining feature of Hotei today. The monk was also a very good speaker, could quote religious texts and considered himself to be a bit of a fortuneteller.

In present day Japan, as well as being the god of contentment, Hotei is known to be very forgiving, a protector of children and is worshipped by attorneys, politicians, cooks, bartenders and fortunetellers. In Japanese art, sometimes Hotei is depicted surrounded by small children who are obviously delighted by his round shape. In recent years, Hotei has become the patron saint of restaurateurs and bartenders in Japan. And sometimes, when someone overeats, they jokingly say it is because they were influenced by Hotei.

MINGEI
Mingei are the tools and utensils that were used daily by the common people in Japan. They were inexpensive, simple and functional. Usually produced by hand, in large quantities, their artists were anonymous. They became representative of the local area where they were produced.

The word Mingei combines “min” meaning common people and “gei” meaning art - the art of the common people. It was coined by the Japanese philosopher Sōetsu Yanagi. He found beauty in ordinary crafts for daily use and argued that true beauty could be found only in the objects made by unknown people, in a spirit of selfless innocence and in close harmony with nature.

WABI SABI
Wabi sabi is the beauty of imperfect things. In Japan, wabi sabi is imperceptible but everywhere: a crack on a teapot, the wood of an old door, green moss on a rock, a misty landscape, a distorted cup or the reflection of the moon on a pond.

The idea of wabi sabi is the contemplation of something that becomes more beautiful as it ages, fades, and consequently acquires a new charm.

Sabi means the delightful contemplation of what is old and worn; the beauty of faded or withered things; things old but elegant; being rusty, all with the impression of peacefulness.

Wabi can mean loneliness or melancholy,the appreciation of a serene life, far from the urban hustle and bustle. It is an aesthetic sensibility closely related to the tea ceremony, referring to the general atmosphere and the objects used during this formal service.

As a sensitivity that leads to happiness, and an acceptance of the beauty of simple and natural things, wabi sabi is a daily way to experience little joys. When admiring a landscape, an object, or a painting, during a conversation with friends or when sharing a moment with a good company, everyone can feel the notion of wabi sabi.