Page 31 - Catalogue of the Edward Morse collection of Japanese pottery MFA BOSTON

INTRODUCTION ii

time, anchor for hope, etc. The Japanese, on the contrary, have among
their symbols many mythological forms. When the symbols are repre-
sented by veritable objects, as the rain-coat, concealing hat, dove, scroll, and
others, they are drawn in a conventional way. Even the pine, bamboo,
plum, heron, and tortoise are often conventionalized in drawing, and in metal
work almost beyond recognition. The mythological figures are seen in
various monstrous animals, such as the dragon, phoenix, lion, and a crea-
ture which appears like a cross between a bull, a deer, and a unicorn.
The seven household deities of good fortune, as the gods of longevity, daily
bread, riches, military glory, contentment, lore and love, are variously repre-
sented. The liberty the Japanese take with their household deities is
shown in the manner in which they are often caricatured. Various sects
of Buddhism have their patron saints, certain sects having their special
ones. All warriors look to Bishamon-ten as their special patron. Benzai-
ten attracts followers of all creeds. Women appeal to her for blessings in
the form of wealth and beauty. Daikoku is depicted as a short, fat figure
seated on a bag with mallet in hand. Merchants propitiate this god.

Conventional Scrolls and Diapers
Japanese decorative work is rich in the variety of scrolls, geometrical
lattice work, and diapers of various kinds, and these are used with great
skill. The so-called Greek fret, which the Japanese have derived from
China, is common in a variety of forms. The Mishima style of decoration,
which is either incised or impressed and filled with clay of contrasting
color, consists of lines, cross-hatchings, encircling bands, stars, circles, punc-
tures, and conventional flowers, and has been derived from Korea.

Inscriptions
The pottery often bears inscriptions either incised or written in some
colored pigment. The inscription, when translated, may turn out to be the
advertisement of some tea-house or a recommendation of the object in
question, as, for example, a tea-pot bears the following : " The taste of the
tea depends upon the article in which it is made, and this is good for tea-
making." Sometimes it may convey a humorous admonition, as in the case
of a little bell-shaped wine-cup, which cannot possibly be put down with-
out tipping over ; the recipient has to hold the cup until he has drank the
contents. Written in black are these words : " If you let this cup wait too
long, it annoys your friend, therefore pass to the left." Again the writing
may give the poetic name of some garden or summer-house, such as " light