In Netsuke
Exciting myth about Watanabe no Tsuna was perpetuated not only in written works, but in art and sculpture. The image of Watanabe no Tsuna taking his sword to beat demon’s attack off became iconographical.
There is the netsuke, made of famous carver of the 19th century Otoman - Watanabe no Tsuna and Demon of Rashomon. This work is based on a little-known legend about the struggle of the famous samurai with a demon that turned into a young girl.
One day the chief sent samurai Watanabe no Tsuna to a village with a task. Upon fulfilling the task, Tsuna decided to return to the city as soon as possible. It was already getting dark when he approached the bridge and saw a pretty girl who asked the gallant samurai to take her home at such a late hour. He put the girl on his back and was about to move on. Suddenly the girl became a terrible devil, who grabbed Tsuna's hair and whispered: 'My house is located on Mount Atago'. The Samurai did not loose his courage, he quickly drew his sword and cut off the devil’s paw. The monster disappeared in the darkness, wailing. Tsuna picked up the trophy, but lost it on his way back home.
The carver skillfully reflected this subject in presented netsuke. The sudden devil’s attack did not take the brave warrior unexpected. With his one hand he is firmly holding the devil's wrist, and with the other hand he is pulling his sword from its sheath. The temptress’s face and body has changed beyond recognition, and only flirtatious gesture-holding to the edge of the cloak-speaks about its feminine essence.
The presented work is really unique. This is the only netsuke in the world that has master’s signature with kakihan. The story of this figure’s appearance at antique market is very interesting. In 1983 German collector Klauss Reiss purchased this netsuke as okimono (!) for 2500 Deutche marks in antique saloon of Munich. The seller said that he exchanged this okimono for bronze Japanese statues. Coming home Klauss Reiss unexpectedly discovered that support of the purchased okimono could be separated from the figure. After tearing it off the collector discovered himotoshi and Otomon’s signature!
When another collector Barry Davis saw this netsuke he proposed Klauss a good sum of money. The sum of the deal is not disclosed. Later the figure changed its owners several times before it got to the Ukrainian collector Boris Filatov. As of 2009 this work is the most expensive netsuke at world antique market.
Read more about this topic: Watanabe No Tsuna