Bantam and Seeds

This two-sided Ryusa netsuke is a profound meditation on the harmony of two worlds: the external, material and the internal, spiritual.
Here we see the Rooster (Tori)—a symbol of diligence, honesty, and keen insight. He has found seeds—an image of “earned fortune.” This scene is an allegory that material prosperity (seeds) comes to one who possesses a sharp eye and diligence (the Rooster).
On the reverse, we are transported to a garden where food for the spirit combines with food for the body. In the center is a Stone Lantern (Tōrō), a symbol of the light of enlightenment and protection from evil.
​And woven around it are the flowers and “tendrils” of a gourd (Hyōtan). This is one of the most powerful good luck talismans in Japan, symbolizing:
​Abundance and Wealth: (due to the countless seeds inside)
​Magical Protection: (the gourd as a “trap” for evil spirits)
​Steadfast Growth: (tenacious tendrils that cannot be stopped)
The philosophy of this work shows two paths to prosperity that must be in harmony.
​The “Path of the Rooster”: This is diligent labor and insight, which allow one to find one’s “seed” in the world.
​The “Path of the Garden”: This is blessing and luck, which grow on their own, protected by higher powers (the Lantern), granting abundance (the Gourd).
​This is a talisman for a person who understands that true success is when one’s own hard work (the Rooster) meets unstoppable, growing luck and spiritual protection (the Garden with the gourd and lantern).
​Materials: Mammoth tusk, amber inlay (eyes).
​Coloring: Yashabushi, Walnut ink.
​Size: 2 inches (≈5.1 cm) in diameter, 1/2 inch thick.
2010