江戸期牙彫根付—鯰を諫める猿（瓢箪鯰）

説明

鯰（なまず）は大きな魚で少しでも動くと地震が起こるため、地震魚と呼ばれる。安政大地震の時に擦られた大津絵を元にした題材。猿が瓢箪で地震を意味する鯰の頭を静かに押さえつけて、地震を起こさせないようにしている珍しい構図。

1586年1月、中部地方の広い範囲を襲った天正地震にあった。このとき秀吉は琵琶湖に面する坂本城（滋賀県大津市）にいた。当時、琵琶湖のシンボルはナマズで、ナマズが騒いだから地震が起きたと土地の人たちの話を聞き、秀吉は「鯰（ナマズ）は地震」と頭にインプットしてしまった。余震に怯える江戸の民衆は、震災情報を求めて瓦版を買い求めたほか、鯰を諫（いさ）める錦絵を求めた。

禅問答の「瓢箪鯰」を元にした由来。鯰の上に乗っている猿が瓢箪で鯰を押さえるからとらえどころのない様子。意味としては「のらりくらりとして掴みようのない」、即ち要領を得ないとのこと。

参考：

印籠と根付P115（図版304木彫），東京国立博物館編，二玄社，2000年

根付の題材―根付小事典P56（図版116），Karl M. Schwarz)原著，里文出版2001年8月改訂版

NETSUKE- The Miniature Sculpture of Japan（大英博物館蔵根付カタログ） P160（図版363），By Richard Barker and Lawrence Smith，Brithsh Museum，1976

MONKEY AND “EARTHQUAKE” FISH. IVORY.

Unsigned.

Kyoto school

Circa: late 18th.

beautifully carved double-figure netsuke depicts a mujina (a type of badger) and a namazu (catfish, associated with earthquakes because it is so active before they occur) locked in a furious struggle. The convolutions of the two animals have made possible a netsuke design of true functional form.

Reference：

INRO AND NETSUKE P115（Cat No.304），by Tokyo Natl. Museum，Nigensha，2000

Netsuke Subjects P56（Cat No.116），By Karl M. Schwarz，Böhlau Verlag（Vienna），1992

NETSUKE- The Miniature Sculpture of Japan P160（Cat No.363），By Richard Barker and Lawrence Smith，Brithsh Museum，1976

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