Monju Bosatsu

1950s

MONJU BOSATSU INCENSE BOX KOGO 香合

A magnificent compact copper bronze Japanese Incense Box Kogo 香合.
The cover portraying the bodhisattva known in Japanese as Monju Bosatsu seated on a reclining lion (Shishi - Shisa).
The superb use of silver and mixed metal alloys in the casting to produce a miniature masterpiece.

The cover; Monju Bosatsu, a gold halo, golden hair, the face silver, the robes burnished chestnut, silver shishi.
Dark brown clouds, all set against a black chequered ground.

The lower section: A ruyi, a rosary, a book and a scroll of Buddhist sutra's all in silver.
Stemmed lotus leaves, open and furled, lotus flowers in gold. Swirling clouds dark brown clouds, all set against a black chequered ground.

The inside gold.

Signed : Shuho

A Pièce de Résistance.

The treasured status of this Kogo is indicated by the fact that it sits within 2 original boxes specially made for it.

The first is a jointed Kiri wood box. The cover reading Mon Ju Ko Go - Monju Kogo (Incense Box ). Under the cover the Artist name and red seal mark Shuho Saku - Shuho made.

The kiri wood box is then placed in the outer brown lacquer box.

Condition is excellent - This was a stored treasure.

Diameter about: 6.7 cm
Height about: 3.5 cm
Weight about: 220 grams
A$1,500

Kogo:
Kogo香合is a Buddhist tea ceremony accessory, a small, lidded container to hold for incense chips. Made from a variety of materials.

Monju Bosatsu:
The bodhisattva (enlightened being) known in Japanese as Monju Bosatsu (or Manjushri in Sanskrit) is a Buddhist deity who represents wisdom.
Manjushri (Monju Bosatsu)
Can be literally translated as "Beautiful One with Glory" or "Beautiful One with Auspiciousness".
Scholars have identified Mañjuśrī as the oldest and most significant bodhisattva in Mahāyāna literature.

Mañjuśrī is first referred to in early Mahāyāna sūtras such as the Prajñāpāramitā sūtras and through this association, very early in the tradition he came to symbolize the embodiment of prajñā (transcendent wisdom).

The Lotus Sutra assigns him a pure land called Vimala, which according to the Avatamsaka Sutra is located in the East. His pure land is predicted to be one of the two best pure lands in all of existence in all the past, present, and future