The bronze sculpture depicts the god of literature Kui Xing standing on a mythical dragon fish. In his left hand he holds an ink baton or stone for smearing ink, and in his right hand he probably originally held a brush. His image, according to tradition, resembles a demon with three flames on his head. The sculpture has a very nice natural patina.
Japan, Edo era, 17th century.
Height 34.5 cm, width 17.5 cm, depth 12 cm.
Good state of preservation, natural patina rubbing, brush missing in left hand.
K'uei Hsing (Kui Xing) is a figure from Chinese mythology, god of examinations and literature, patron of scholars. He stands on the head of a fish dragon, and holds a writing brush in his right hand. He is said to have been a historical figure, a poor but brilliant student named Zhong Kui, who passed the imperial examinations with high honors. However, because he was ugly, he was not allowed to enter government service. In despair, he drowned, but was carried by the legendary dragon fish to heaven, where he became a star (“Xing” in Chinese) of the constellation of the Great Bear (known in China as the Palace of Literary Genius) i.e. he joined the star patrons of literature. Since the Chinese character Kui consists of an ideogram meaning “demon” and an ideogram meaning “ladle,” Kui Xing is often depicted with a demonic appearance, a hideous face, a horn-like protuberance on his head and a disproportionate body. His depictions in China are known from as early as the Song Dynasty (960-1279).
Similar sculptures:
https://collections.artsmia.org/art/5798/kui-xing-china
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O166038/kuixing-figure-of-kuixing-unknown/
https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6073349
https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6318644
+Kui Xing - God of literature, Japan, Edo era, 17th century.
zł7,200.00
The bronze sculpture depicts the god of literature Kui Xing standing on a mythical dragon fish. In his left hand he holds an ink baton or stone for smearing ink, and in his right hand he probably originally held a brush. His image, according to tradition, resembles a demon with three flames on his head. The sculpture has a very nice natural patina.
Japan, Edo era, 17th century.
Height 34.5 cm, width 17.5 cm, depth 12 cm.
Good state of preservation, natural patina rubbing, brush missing in left hand.
K'uei Hsing (Kui Xing) is a figure from Chinese mythology, god of examinations and literature, patron of scholars. He stands on the head of a fish dragon, and holds a writing brush in his right hand. He is said to have been a historical figure, a poor but brilliant student named Zhong Kui, who passed the imperial examinations with high honors. However, because he was ugly, he was not allowed to enter government service. In despair, he drowned, but was carried by the legendary dragon fish to heaven, where he became a star (“Xing” in Chinese) of the constellation of the Great Bear (known in China as the Palace of Literary Genius) i.e. he joined the star patrons of literature. Since the Chinese character Kui consists of an ideogram meaning “demon” and an ideogram meaning “ladle,” Kui Xing is often depicted with a demonic appearance, a hideous face, a horn-like protuberance on his head and a disproportionate body. His depictions in China are known from as early as the Song Dynasty (960-1279).
Similar sculptures:
https://collections.artsmia.org/art/5798/kui-xing-china
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O166038/kuixing-figure-of-kuixing-unknown/
https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6073349
https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6318644