Netsuke rat with a bag of rice meaning. Animals and inanimate objects. Worldwide recognition of Netsuke Hotei

Hotei can make wishes come true. To do this, you need to stroke his belly clockwise 300 times, while thinking about your dream. Hotei's belly should be stroked before every exit from the house. It will attract good luck that will accompany you all day.

Although Hotei is the god of fun and wealth, he requires proper treatment. The space around him should always shine with purity, and God himself should stand in a place where others will admire him. Then he will be satisfied and will give the owners of the apartment, house and any other premises all kinds of benefits.

Netsuke are cute talismans for all occasions, essentially Japanese miniature sculptures, often in a cartoon style. These can be figures of various deities, people and even animals. Interesting appearance made talismans popular not only among eastern peoples, but in our area.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with the whole variety of Japanese figurines and understand their meaning. Armed with new knowledge, you can choose a netsuke sculpture for yourself.

Initially, Japanese netsuke figurines were not shrouded in legends and were not surrounded by an aura of magic. Miniature figures played the role of a belt keychain and at the same time a decorative element in clothing.

Initially, netsuke figurines were used as a decorative element for clothing or in the form of a small belt keychain.

The fact is that in traditional Japanese clothes no pockets, so they were common sagemono– small containers for keys, medicines and other small items. And in ancient japan netsuke played the role of a decorative detail, with the help of which these “bags” were held on the belt. The figurine was tied with a cord to a small wicker basket or wooden box as follows:

1. The lace was tied into a ring and wound into the belt.
2. Netsuke was inserted into the upper loop protruding above the belt.
3. The sagemono was attached to the bottom loop. The knot of the lace was hidden in the netsuke, so the whole pattern looked very neat.

Today, Japanese netsuke are distributed throughout the world as miniature talismans. Most often they are used as a keychain, an element of interior decor, or simply carried with them to receive various kinds of help from above.

The name of the miniature sculptures is"netsuke» written 2-in hieroglyphs:"Not" translates as"root», "tsuke"means"fix».

The meaning of netsuke figures

The meaning of netsuke depends on what kind of figurine it is and what it represents. Basically, miniature sculptures symbolize health, longevity, love, luck, wealth, worldly wisdom, as well as various spiritual qualities.

Many figurines are associated with various deities, so the owner can receive the patronage and protection of the ancient Japanese god. Some figurines are suitable for people of a certain profession, others for men, and others for women. There are also universal ones that will be a good companion for almost any person.

By the way, netsuke figures can be combined according to your own desire and taste. There is no requirement to choose one thing; these talismans do not oppose each other in any way. A collection of several figures will give the interior some oriental zest and will help its owner in several areas of life at once.

What types of netsuke are there?

There are a wide variety of netsuke. Listed below are the most popular ones that can be purchased at the souvenir shop.

People and deities

• 
  with a long beard makes its owner more courageous, stronger and more resilient spiritually. It is better to place it in your bedroom, closer to the bed.
• Elder Daikoku– pot-bellied merchant with a bag magic rice. Symbolizes prosperity, material wealth and happiness in the home, plays the role of the keeper of the family hearth. As a rule, they are placed in the room where the whole family most often gathers.
• 
  – an old man with a fish in his hands is a symbol of good luck. Usually Ebisu is combined with Daikoku to bring good luck and prosperity to the house. It can also be placed at your workplace to attract good fortune.
• 
  - a bald little old man. Netsuke gives family members longevity and good health, and helps to quickly recover from existing ailments.
• 
  - a symbol of happiness and communication. Famous as a wish-granting deity. There is a belief: if you stroke Hotei’s round belly 300 times and mentally think about a wish, it will come true. The classic figurine is an image of a plump man without hair or beard, holding a bag in his hands. Sometimes the sculpture is supplemented with coins or a fan. a pearl or even a gift horse.
• 
  - the lord of the wind, granting his protection to travelers. It is customary to take Netsuke Futen with you to long haul so that the road is easy and the traveler is accompanied by good luck.
• 
  - patron of long life and science. Netsuke attracts happiness and health into the home, helps in acquiring new knowledge and skills.
• 
  Benzaiten– goddess of female happiness and well-being, patroness of young girls and women in search of their happiness. They turn to her with a request to meet her betrothed. The figurine depicts a Japanese woman with a lute in her hands.
• 
  - deity who patronizes warriors. It protects goodness and strengthens its owner's strength of loyalty, duty and honor. Anyone who needs protection and support in solving difficult life situations can turn to Bishamonten for help.
• 
  - an image of wisdom and many years life. The figurine of a big-headed old man with a very long beard helps to learn the wisdom of life and live a long, happy and measured life.
• 
  Ame no Uzume- goddess of the Moon, patron of love and happiness. In Japan she is also called the creator theatrical arts, therefore the round-faced goddess is depicted with theatrical attributes in her hand.
• 
  Kanzan and Jittoku- two Buddhist monks symbolizing fraternal relationships, harmony and agreement. The Japanese give such netsuke to spouses, wishing them to live in peace and harmony.
• 
  - Time keeper. He looks like an old man with a writing board in which he writes down all the good and joyful dreams and desires, and over time helps his owner fulfill these desires.
• 
  created in the likeness of the founder of the Buddhist school, who lived at the beginning of the sixth century AD. Symbolizes wisdom, human compassion and clarity of mind.
• 
  - famous Chinese sage who lived in the sixth century BC. e. He is also the founder of the teaching of the same name “Confucianism”, which in China and Japan is considered one of the fundamental spiritual philosophies. Netsuke Confucius is a symbol of filial piety and education.
• 
  - the image of the founder of the teachings of Tao, who was a great philosopher and sage.
• 
  - goddess of heaven, possessing a magical drink of immortality. She patronizes lovers and bestows good health and happiness.
• 
  with a sparrow on the back is a very kind, benevolent netsuke talisman, symbolizing endless happiness and the protection of the gods.
• 
  with various additional attributes. The figurines were made and presented with the wish for the speedy appearance of an heir who would grow up wise and capable and occupy a high position in society.

Animals and inanimate objects

• 
  – attracts wealth. Netsuke is placed at the workplace to attract good luck in transactions.
• 
  Coin with a hole in the middle– also attracts cash flow. For maximum effectiveness, it should be placed in the wealth zone.
• 
  – protection of housing and households from bad weather, thieves, diseases and other sorrows. If placed in the wealth zone, dogs will help improve family relationships.
• 
  – patron of abundance and prosperity.
• 
  – symbolizes prosperity in the home and attracts wealth.
• 
  Snake– the embodiment of vital energy, wisdom, feminine strength and beauty. The snake has a special property of changing its old skin when it grows out of it. She passes on a similar skill to her owner - from every test on life path he comes out wiser, stronger, renewed.
• 
  – will bring good luck and improve your financial condition.
• 
  – patrons of love and mutual understanding in the family.
• 
  attracts good luck, helps career growth and personal development;
• 
  Turtles- a symbol of great wisdom and long life. According to legend, a turtle could live for a whole millennium, acquiring a huge life experience and wisdom. Therefore, in difficult times they turned to her for advice.

Fairy-tale and mythical creatures

1. 
   – translated means “heavenly dog”, but the appearance is far from the image of a dog: in the bowl sits a figurine of a creature in feathers and with a beak, with its paws out. This is an image of a forest spirit who can transform into various living creatures. IN Chinese mythology Tengu is the embodiment of a military teacher: he helps new soldiers learn martial arts. The heavenly dog ​​also protects travelers.
2. 
   Netsuke dragon- a strong talisman that will protect the owner, his family and home from evil forces and evil spirits, and will also protect envious people and ill-wishers from the negative energy.
3. 
   - the image of a heavenly lion serving Buddha. It protects against evil forces and attracts prosperity. If the figurine has a peony or a ball in its paws, Karasisi Fo will help the owner become famous and improve his financial situation, and representatives of the military profession will achieve rapid career growth.
4. 
   Cat figurine, lying on the back of the catfish Namazu, which symbolizes the fish of earthquakes among the Japanese. Netsuke attracts harmony into the home and protects against natural disasters.
5. 
   - saint in oriental culture with a toad on the back, symbolizes good health and longevity. According to legend, the saint learned the secret of immortality from a toad and after that became a famous doctor.
6. 
   - Japanese merman. Appearance quite unusual - a combination of an otter and a turtle. According to legend, Kappa transforms into a human and lures random passers-by into bodies of water. But if you defeat the merman in a fight, the fairy-tale creature will serve faithfully, helping in professional matters. The figurine is given to sailors and fishermen before going to sea so that Kappa can help them complete their journey safely.

What are netsuke made from?

A real netsuke figurine should be made only from natural material.

The Japanese use bone or wood as material, but you can also find porcelain, clay or ceramic figurines. Most often they are made in small sizes - only 3-4 cm in height. Sometimes larger specimens are also found.

Netsuke made of plastic is an incorrect figure. Artificial material has no connection with natural forces, which means it does not have the necessary energy. Such an accessory is nothing more than a simple detail in creating a themed interior.

Over time, people really began to believe that a wide variety of netsuke figurines brought their owners health, wealth, happiness, and success. From then on, the Japanese began to use netsuke figurines not only as decoration, but also as talismans.

The Japanese themselves tried to carry these figures with them, and since there were no pockets, the netsuke were simply attached to their clothes with laces.

The meaning of netsuke

Helps not to miss out on luck. Two figures Daikoku and will attract happiness and good luck into the house.

He is the God of health and longevity.

Hotei– God of communication and happiness. Hotei is one of the most revered in Japan for its “ability” to grant wishes. People believe, and apparently not without reason, that if you stroke a figurine on the stomach three hundred times, your most cherished wish will come true, the main thing is to keep this desire in your head during the stroking process...

The prototype of Hotei was the Chinese monk Tsitsa, who preferred crowded bazaars to the solitude of the monastery and wandered around China, making a living by predicting the weather. His only possessions were a staff and a begging bag called a hotei, from which the monk received his nickname. Consolidation given nickname The second “bag” also contributed - a huge belly, which no robe could cover and in which, according to the Chinese, the vital energy qi was concentrated. The Buddha Maitreya, whose incarnation was considered Tsitsi, who was loved by people for his cheerful character and easy disposition and who became the hero of many legends and stories, was also distinguished by a similar belly. According to legend, where he appeared, good luck, health and prosperity came to people. If anyone asked what was in his bag, he would answer: “I have the whole world in there.” In the 17th century, Hotei, as the embodiment of happiness and carefreeness, was adopted in Japan. He became one of the.

Hotei is often depicted holding various objects: gold bars or coins, a staff, a pearl, a peach, a fan that drives away grief, a bag of wealth leading to a gift horse.

Futen is the God of the wind. Netsuke with his image is sure to be taken with you on the road, as it brings the traveler good luck on the journey.

Jurojin is an old man of longevity and science. It brings its owners a happy and long life to their home.

Benzaiten

Benzaiten considered a female deity and bestows prosperity and happiness.

Bishamonten- a warrior god, one of the seven Japanese gods of happiness (read more about them). Bishamonten fights on the side of the forces of good. His motto is “Loyalty, duty, honor.”

Fukurokuju- God of wisdom and longevity. Depicted with a very large head. With its help, a person acquires wisdom and lives a very long time. He is also one of the seven gods of happiness.

Now let's talk about the meanings of netsuke figurines depicting various animals, fish and birds.

For example, a toad with a coin in its mouth is a symbol of wealth. The Chinese place this figurine in a place of honor not only at home, but also at work. They believe that it is very conducive to concluding quite profitable deals.

Two dogs protect the home from troubles and failures. And if they are also placed in the “wealth zone”, then they will contribute to good relationships in the family.

Bull figurine attracts prosperity and abundance to the home.

Goldfish- a symbol of financial success.

A Chinese coin placed in the wealth zone will attract money to your home.

A figurine depicting Boat model brings good luck in all matters.

Dragon, oddly enough, protects the house from all evil spirits.

Smooth Nine carp will attract wealth to their owner’s home and good luck in business.

Two carp give the family love, understanding and wealth.

Eagle figurine– a symbol of good luck in work, promoting career growth.

Vase with peonies will fill your home with positive energy, affection and love.

figurine with Three monkeys will protect you from evil spirits.

The pyramid attracts prosperity, joy and success into your home. If you keep it on your child's desk, it will help him succeed in school.

The importance of materials for making netsuke

In addition to the images themselves, the material from which the netsuke are made plays an important role. It also has certain symbolic properties. Basically, netsuke is made from various types of wood and ivory. But these three materials are the most popular for making netsuke figurines.

Tsuge (boxwood) - this evergreen tree is a symbol of longevity and health.

Deer bone bestows beauty, restores youth and health, and promises longevity.

Sakura and jujuba have positive energy and are benevolent symbols.

Authentic netsuke, made of high-quality material, have a purely positive effect on the human psyche and act as a sedative.

Summarizing all of the above, it should be noted that it will not be enough to purchase a true figurine of one or another value for fabulous money and place it where you like. So it will not fully bring the benefit to its owner that it should. You need to know exactly which sector of your home you need to assign it to. Refer this question to the teachings of Feng Shui.

Netsuke was used as a pendant on traditional Japanese clothing, kimonono (着物) and kosode (帯鉗), which were devoid of pockets. Small things like a tobacco pouch or a key were placed in special containers called sagemono (下げ物). The containers could take the form of pouches or small wicker baskets, but the most popular were inro (印籠) boxes, which were closed using a bead that slid along an ojime (緒締め) cord. Inro were attached to the kimonono obi (帯) belt using a cord. It was tied into a ring, folded in half and passed through the belt. A netsuke was attached to one end of the resulting loop. The cord knot was hidden in one of two himotoshi (紐解) - netsuke holes connected by a through valve. Thus, netsuke served both as a kind of counterweight and as an elegant decoration for clothing.

Netsuke should not be confused with okimono (置き物, 置物) - a miniature Japanese sculpture similar to netsuke in design, subject matter, and often in size. Okimono always lacks a hole for a cord, that is, these sculptures are devoid of utilitarian functions

The word okimono (“placed thing”) is a general name for all small-sized easel sculpture intended only for interior decoration. It refers to figurines made of any material. When the term okimono is used in connection with netsuke, it refers to sculptures made of ivory and, rarely, wood. Such okimono arose later - no earlier than the 19th century and were created by craftsmen whose main specialty was netsuke carving.

The question of the origin of netsuke can be resolved in two ways: netsuke is a Japanese invention, or netsuke were borrowed. Netsuke is both a utilitarian piece of costume, having a specific shape, and work of art, decorated in a certain style. Each of these "aspects" of netsuke can provide a different answer to the question of their origin.

Netsuke type counterbalance key fobs were used over a wide area: in Japan and Hungary, in the Far North and Ethiopia. In essence, netsuke appear where there is a suit without pockets, but with a belt. Therefore, it is risky to explain the custom of wearing items like netsuke as borrowed from outside: this custom may turn out to be local. If key fobs existing in different countries, reveal stylistic similarity, then this is a good reason to assume influences and borrowings.

Netsuke in the form of a stick or button were used earlier, but it was in the 17th century that they began to take on the character of miniature sculpture.

In Japan, if not the custom of carrying objects in a belt with the help of a counterweight-keychain, then the specifics of it decoration(in the form of a carved sculpture, a relief plate, etc.) is undoubtedly not of local origin, but of Chinese origin, where pendant charms were made already in the 3rd century BC. During the Ming period (1368-1644), the Chinese called such items zhuizi (坠子 zhuizi) or pei-chui - items similar to netsuke both in function and design. By this time, there had long been a strong tradition of borrowing various elements of spiritual and material culture China, including clothes. The name of the keychains also points to China.

Netsuke is not their only designation in Japan. Sometimes there are also such as kensui, haisui and haishi. But these names - in Chinese, respectively: xuan-chui, pei-chui and pei-tzu - were used in China along with the most common term zhui-tzu

Some early netsuke were called karamono (唐物, "Chinese thing") and tōbori (唐彫り, "Chinese carving"). The connection between netsuke and their Chinese prototype is obvious. But the role of Pei Tzu in the history of netsuke should not be exaggerated: very soon in Japan, on the basis of Zhui Tzu, original forms of netsuke and carving techniques were developed, new plots were introduced and old ones were rethought. In Japan, netsuke has become an independent and highly developed art, which did not happen with the Chinese zhuizi.





There is no record of the use of netsuke before the 17th century. Things that needed to be carried were carried differently

In the history of Japanese costume, there were several ways to attach things to a belt. Most ancient item, which was worn using a device similar to a netsuke, this is mentioned in the writings of the first quarter of the 8th century Kojiki (古事記, Records of Antiquities) and Nihongi (日本紀, Annals of Japan) hiuchi-bukuro (火打ち袋) - a pouch for flint and flint, which was attached to the hilt of the sword. The custom turned out to be persistent

In the painting of the Heian period (平安時代, 794-1185), images of hiuchi-bukuro are often found (for example, in the icon of the deity Kongobu Ji of the Koya-san monastery). A pouch for flint and steel can also be seen on the Nagataka Tosa scroll (late 13th century) “Pictorial Account of the Mongol Invasion” by a person reporting the appearance of an enemy fleet

During the Kamakura (鎌倉時代, 1185-1333) and Muromachi (室町時代, 1335-1573) periods, the hiuchi-bukuro began to be used as a wallet, a portable first aid kit, etc., but was worn in the same way as before.





In parallel with this, other devices were also widespread. First of all, there are obi-hasami (帯鉗), which, as stated in the 1821-1841 work "Conversations in the Night of the Rat", were the predecessors of netsuke. Obi-hasami - figuratively framed hook; its upper bend is hooked onto the belt, and various objects are tied to the protrusion below

Similar things have come down from the Ming time in China. The obi-hasami form was not adopted because this method was unsafe: with fast movement and bending of the body, one could easily prick oneself with a long and sharp hook.

Another form that preceded and partly coexisted with netsuke is the obiguruwa, a belt ring to which a wallet, keys, and the like were attached. It is possible that this type of fastening came to Japan from Mongolia via China.

In Japan, the first netsuke appeared in the second half of the 16th and early 17th centuries.

Perhaps specific events played a role here: the campaigns of the military ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi (豊臣秀吉) in Korea in 1592 and 1597. This date of the appearance of netsuke is confirmed by images of costumes in paintings of that time and information literary sources. In the late 16th century screen painting "Dressage" one of the riders is depicted with an inro hanging from his belt. The folds of the clothing hide the object it is attached to, but judging by the position of the inro, it is a netsuke. There is a description of the hunt by Tokugawa Ieyasu (徳川家康), in which, among other details of Ieyasu’s costume, netsuke in the form of a gourd is mentioned. This is the earliest evidence of counterweight charms being worn in Japan.

The 17th century is the prehistory of netsuke, which is known only from indirect evidence. The works that have survived to this day were created no earlier than the first half of the 18th century. By this time, the formation of the artistic language of miniature Japanese sculpture had already been completed, and the period from the mid-18th century to the mid-19th century can be considered the “golden age” of netsuke.

The history of netsuke generally does not extend beyond the Tokugawa period (徳川時代, 1603-1868) - the heyday of the art of city dwellers: merchants and artisans. The conditions of their existence and the social atmosphere in general had a noticeable influence on the evolution of miniature sculpture. For example, in the field of domestic policy, the military government of Japan, bakufu (将軍), adopted a policy of preserving the groove of the created structure of society.

“Laws against luxury” were repeatedly issued, the purpose of which was to strictly distinguish between the “noble” and “mean” classes, including in lifestyle and clothing. Everything was subject to regulation: from the number of floors in the house to the quality of the material for the dress and the cost of toys or sweets. Punishments for violating prohibitions ranged from fines to expulsion from the city.

However, if these prohibitions were not directly violated, then, as a rule, they were skillfully circumvented. However, the townspeople did not have many opportunities to decorate their costumes, and therefore none of them should have been missed. Netsuke was the detail with which you could demonstrate your own taste, your attitude to the next fashion, and, to some extent, your well-being. It was in applied arts that the aesthetic demands of the townspeople were most fully satisfied, which stimulated the emergence of virtuoso masters netsukeshi (根付師) - netsuke carvers. Therefore, the change in form, material, and artistic interpretation of netsuke clearly indicates a change in the artistic tastes and preferences of people of the late 18th and 19th centuries.













In the 17th and 18th centuries, entire schools of carvers emerged, differing in style and favorite themes. For example, the Hida or Nara schools were characterized by figurines made in the ottobori style - using one knife, without careful elaboration of small details

The largest schools of carvers are in Edo, Ōsaka and Kyōto. In the provinces, original movements sometimes arise, the founder of which was often one talented master. As an example, we can point to Shiyoda Tomiharu, who lived and worked in the mid-18th century in the province of Iwami (石見国) on the island of Honshū (本州). Among netsukushi, big names emerge such as Shūzan Yoshimura (周山吉村) from Ōsaka, Tomotada (友忠) and Masanao (正直) from Kyōto

However, with rare exceptions, little is known about the lives and details of the biographies of most of the carvers. The collection Sōken Kishō (装劍奇賞) became a great help for researchers studying the history of netsuke. It was published in 1781 by Ōsaka resident and sword merchant Inaba Tsuryu (稲葉通龍). The collection contains a list of fifty-three names of the largest netsukushi of the time, accompanied by illustrations of their works.





Much of the netsuke of the late 19th century and all of the netsuke of the 20th century were made for export. They are still made today. For the most part, these are rather low-grade souvenir products produced in an assembly line manner. But the art of netsuke has not disappeared

Even today there are craftsmen whose specialty is netsuke carving. Some works by such masters are valued very highly (from US$10,000 to $100,000 or more). Prices for collectible netsuke at auctions in the United States usually range from several hundred to thousands of dollars (inexpensive stamped but accurate reproductions are sold in museum stores for prices up to $30).

However, the nature of the development of this art has changed. Firstly, the practical need for netsuke has disappeared: the Japanese wear European clothing, since kimono is replaced by European clothing in the 1920s. Secondly, the attitude of the carvers themselves towards the netsuke they create has changed: now they are considered as completely independent works, isolated from the customer, and from fashion, and often from the tradition of a particular school. The works of modern masters can be divided into two groups: netsuke, made in the spirit of modern easel sculpture, and traditional netsuke.











The word netsuke contains two hieroglyphs. Ne (根) means root, and the verb tsukeru (付ける) means to attach, attach, append, apply; or tsuku (付く) - to be attached to something.

Typology (types) of netsuke:
. katabori (形彫) - the most known species netsuke, a compact carved sculpture that can depict people, animals, multi-figure groups. Characteristic for mature period history of netsuke (late 18th - early 19th century);
. anabori (穴彫) - a subtype of katabori, the plots of which are created inside a carved cavity; the most common scenes are inside a bivalve shell;
. sashi (差) is one of the oldest forms of netsuke. It is a long block (of various materials, but most often made of wood) with a hole for a cord at one end. The way to consume sashi is different from all other forms. If katabori, manju and others were used as a counterweight, then sashi was tucked into the belt in such a way that the hole was at the bottom, and a wallet, keys, etc. hung from a cord passed through it. Sometimes a hook was additionally cut out at the upper end, hooking onto the upper edge of the belt. Usually sashi is considered one of the forms of netsuke, but according to some researchers, it is a modification of the handle of a sword, from which a bag of flint and steel was hung. Another close analogy to sashi is the obi-hasami device, invented in China. It is basically similar to sashi, it has a hook on top, but instead of a hole, obi-hasami has a small round thickening at the bottom, to which the wearable object was tied. The first netsuke-sashi have survived to this day in very small quantities. In addition, the first netsuke-sashi are difficult to distinguish from obi-hasami. Later, during the period of the developed art of netsuke, the sashi form was probably perceived as archaic and was not used often.
. mask (面 men) - the largest category after katabori, often a smaller copy of the Nō theater mask (能), similar in properties to katabori and manju (kagamibuta);
. itaraku - netsuke in the form of a pumpkin, box or other objects woven from wire, bamboo or reed;
. manju (饅頭) - netsuke in the form of a thick disk, most often made of ivory. Sometimes it is made of two halves. The image is given by engraving, which is usually accompanied by blackening. It got its name due to its resemblance to the round flat rice cake manju. One of the unique varieties of manju is a composition made up of several miniature theatrical masks;
. ryusa (柳左) is a variant of the manju form. The main difference between this form and the usual manju is that it is empty inside, and one (upper) part is made using the through-carving technique. When ryusa was made from two split halves, the material was usually removed from the middle using a lathe. This form was especially used in Edo, where the famous carver Ryusa lived (active in the 1780s), after whom it is named. It is believed that this form, like manju, gained particular popularity in connection with the earthquakes of the Ansei period (安政, 1854–1860), and especially the Edo earthquake of 1855, when many netsuke were destroyed and a need for new products arose. The ease of making ryusa compared to, for example, katabori or kagamibuta influenced their predominant distribution at this time.
. kagamibuta (鏡蓋) - also similar to manju, but is a flat vessel made of ivory or other bone, horn, rarely wood, covered with a metal lid on top, on which the main part of the decorative design is concentrated based on a wide range of techniques. The signature on these netsukes is usually that of the metalsmith.

These forms, of course, do not exhaust the entire variety of netsuke. There were so-called "curious" netsuke - for example, made from the triggers of Dutch guns, carved items adapted to be worn as a belt keychain, such as dolls, as well as keychains with additional practical meaning: in the form of abacus - soroban, compass, flint and flint, ashtrays and so on. However, these things appear in the general mass only sporadically; they represent an exception to the general rule.

netsuke materials are varied:
. tree;
. ivory;
. walrus ivory;
. deer antlers;
. buffalo horns;
. rhinoceros horn;
. narwhal horns;
. boar tusks;
. bear fangs;
. wolf fangs;
. tiger fangs;
. bones of various animals.

Used, although much less frequently:
. varnish;
. metals;
. porcelain;
. bamboo;
. different types coral;
. different types of amber;
. tortoiseshell;
. glass;
. agate;
. nephritis;
. flint;
. petrified wood.

The following could be adapted for wearing:
. gourd pumpkins
. shells
. or objects that originally had a different purpose, for example, parts of the frame of a bladed weapon.

However, netsuke made from materials such as lacquer, ceramics, porcelain are products of types applied arts with its own traditions and techniques. The development of netsuke as an independent art, the formation of its artistic language, is associated with two materials: wood and ivory.

Ivory is a rather “young” material in the history of Japanese art.” Before the Tokugawa period, it was known only from Chinese products. In the form of tusks, it began to be imported to Japan from Vietnam through China. Combs were made from this material for women's hairstyle and other decorations, but primarily the plectrums for shamisen (三味線). Ivory scraps, which usually had a triangular shape, were used for the mass production of netsuke, which also left an imprint on the shape of such products. Craftsmen who worked on private orders and cared more about their professional reputation than about their earnings avoided such material.

Wood is a traditional material for Japanese sculpture. Used various breeds, but more often than others - Japanese cypress (檜 or 桧 hinoki).

Most of netsuke early period made of cypress. It is soft and convenient for carving, but has a significant drawback: over time, the products become covered with cracks. The requirements for netsuke are most fully satisfied by: Japanese boxwood (tsuge) is a hard material that has long been used for seals. In addition to hinoki, light and soft Korean pine wood (chosen-matsu), distinguished by a reddish-yellow hue, was used. Netsuke was also cut from persimmon, a wood with a yellowish color and a black core, which was sometimes taken as an independent material.

Among the heavy and hard woods, in addition to boxwood, prunus (isu), the wood of which has a dark brown or reddish tint, was used to make netsuke. There are netsuke made from pale pink cherry (桜 sakura), as well as from ebony, which was imported from India.

Other types of wood were used much less frequently, such as:
. yew;
. tea bush;
. camphor;
. ironwood;
. camellia;
. jujub;
. pine;
. sandalwood;
. walnut;
. betel nut (vegetable ivory);
. palm nut (during the Meiji period (明治時代, 1868-1912), it was brought from South America).

The predominant use of one or another material is explained, first of all, by reasons of a purely practical nature: suitability, strength, availability and sufficient quantity.



In most cases, the material (and not just the plot) had symbolic overtones.

Thus, boxwood, being an evergreen tree, was considered a symbol of longevity, and its wood was highly valued as a material for amulets, amulets and other ritual objects. Ivory also had benevolent symbolism and was also a healing agent. In China, from where ivory products first came to Japan, and later tusks, ivory powder or shavings were used in medicine. For example, in order to remove a splinter, a poultice of ivory powder and water was used. It was believed that ivory scraps boiled in water acted as a laxative, but if they were first burned, the effect of the drug would be reversed. In addition, ivory was recommended for epilepsy, osteomyelitis and smallpox. Thus, the Chinese ivory zhuizi was a kind of portable first aid kit with medicines for all occasions.

That such a perception of ivory existed in Japan is evidenced by some netsuke, in which the reverse side, invisible to the naked eye, was left untreated so that a little ivory could be scraped off to prepare medicine without damaging the image. This method of using netsuke was undoubtedly borrowed from China, where ivory zhuizi was used for the same purpose.

It is not difficult to imagine that even in those cases when ivory was not intended for treatment, the understanding of the healing function of the material remained unchanged, and therefore its symbolism, just like the symbolism of boxwood, is associated with the wish for longevity

Powder made from deer antler was also considered a medicine; it was believed to have magical properties: the return of youth and strength. Accordingly, we can conclude that netsuke made from deer antler, thanks to the material, contained a connotation of wishes for health and longevity.

Netsuke made from sakura cherry, birch, prunus, jujube and some other materials also had benevolent and healing symbolism.

More than any other art, netsuke reflected the nature of the society that gave birth to it. Reasons include long periods of isolation due to geographic and political reasons, as well as restrictions on people's ways of expressing themselves due to customs and laws. As a result, netsuke shows all aspects of life of its time, including rich folklore, religion, crafts, trades and professions, and various types of people and creatures, real and fictional. The following stories can be highlighted:
. people: famous and unknown, real, historical, and fictional, children, warriors, priests and so on;
. animals: signs of the eastern horoscope and others;
. plants and plant products; small ones, such as beans and walnuts, were often cut to real size;
. deities and mythical creatures, often from Chinese myth and religion, netsuke depicting one of the seven gods of fortune, who, according to Shinto (神道 shintō), bring good luck;
. items are the rarest category. Coins, tools, roofing tiles and the like;
.abstract: mon symbols, patterns;
.sexual (春画 shunga): can depict a man and a woman copulating or only hint at erotic content in a subtle symbolic form.

Some netsuke depict simple objects, others depict entire scenes known from history, mythology or literature.