Kozuka with Taikôbô Fishing

Description The 12th-century Chinese sage Taikôbô (Ch. Kiang Tsze Ya) is shown sitting on a rock, fishing. Taikôbô fished without bait because he went fishing in order to have time alone with his thoughts, not to catch fish. He became a counselor to Emperor Si Peh. The background is a fish egg pattern ("nanakoji"), and the kozuka has a raised rim.

Provenance Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

Inscriptions signature

Credit Acquired by Henry Walters