Letter Box with Clouds, Dragon and Centipede
- Date
-
制作年 AD16
- Title
- ウンリュウムカデマキエフバコ
- Measurements
- 5.5×6.6×25.0
- Materials, techniques and shape
- Lacquered wood with maki-e
- Collections
- Century Akao Collection
- Depository
- Keio Museum Commons Campus Mita
- Ref. number
- AW-CEN-000265-0000
- License
- CC BY Images license
- Creditline
-
慶應義塾（センチュリー赤尾コレクション）
- URL
- Classification
- Art
- AI Tagging
- Rectangle Musical instrument Wood Font Electronic component
An elongated box for carrying a messenger’s letter or for storing a letter thus received was called fubako. The exhibited letter box has a matching top depicting a dragon ascending to the skies on a cloud. This cloud-and-dragon design was developed as a favorite motif in China and was typically used to decorate emperors’ robes to represent their authority. The use of the famous design on this letter box suggests that the sender wanted the letter to be expedited to its recipient, like a dragon soaring into the sky. At the bottom of the box is a painting of a large centipede, an insect believed to be the messenger of Bishamonten (also called Tamonten) who was one of the guardian deities of Buddhism. This rare design may reflect the sender’s wish to ward off ill news in the reply.
Overview
Rights
Depository and ID
Components
OPEN DATADESIGN
Keio Object Hub makes data on cultural objects open and tries designing various experiences using open data.
Details
Identifiers
- Title (EN)
- Letter Box with Clouds, Dragon and Centipede
Physical description
- Weights and quantities
-
Quantity 1合
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