netsuke (Octopus and Monkey)

netsuke (Octopus and Monkey) , 1700s–1800, Edo period (1600–1868)

Where object was made: Japan

Material/technique: ceramic

Credit line: William Bridges Thayer Memorial

Accession number: 1928.0470

Not on display

Add to portfolio

If you wish to reproduce this image, please submit an image request

Images

Label texts

Collection Cards: Collect

An octopus wrestling a monkey? Referencing a well-known Japanese fairy tale, the octopus-physician struggles to extract the monkey’s liver to use as medicine for the Dragon Sea King’s daughter. In turn, the clever monkey tries to persuade the octopus that he has no liver. With dramatic attention to the entanglement of tentacles and limbs, this story was frequently represented in 19th century netsuke, small fashionable accessories that also served as button-like toggles to fasten pocket containers, like inro, for traditional Japanese garments, such as kimono. These artifacts exemplified an individual’s status and taste in Edo-period Japan (1600–1868). The exquisite, handheld carvings also held strong appeal for the 19th- century Western art market, thus these items were popular among collectors in the United States, including Sallie Casey Thayer.

To read or listen to an English translation of “The Jelly Fish and the Monkey” visit:

http://etc.usf.edu/lit2go/72/japanese-fairy-tales/4842/the-jelly-fish-a…

What type of clothing accessory might you choose to portray the story of the octopus and the monkey?

What format or medium would you use to depict the story? (e.g. drawing, print, sculpture)

Would it also be something that people might collect and donate to an art museum?

Civic Leader and Art Collector: Sallie Casey Thayer and an Art Museum for KU

Referencing a well-known Japanese fairy tale, the octopus-physician struggles to extract the monkey’s liver as medicine for the Dragon Sea King’s daughter. In turn, the clever monkey seeks to persuade the octopus that he has no liver. With dramatic attention to entanglement of tentacles and limbs, this story was frequently represented by 19th-century netsuke, small fashionable accessories that also served as button-like toggles to fasten pocket containers like inro for traditional Japanese garments, such as kimono.

These items served as examples of status and taste in Edo-period Japanese cities (1600–1868). Additionally, these exquisite, carvings were widely popular in the Western art market from the 19th century and later, and were popular among collectors in the United States, like Sallie Casey Thayer.

Tap the Web icon above and click on the link to read or listen to an English translation of “The Jelly Fish and the Monkey”

Tap the image above and swipe to view an additional side of the object.