Lacquered hako netsuke
in the form of a gunbai
A lacquered hako netsuke in the form of a gunbai (general’s war fan), the roiro ground inlaid with a sun and moon symbol beneath which are lacquered respectively the kanji 一天四海 Itten Shikai (One Heaven, and Four Seas). The reverse shows kanji reading 和合長禾（和合長楽）Wago Choraku (Peaceful Harmony/Union and Eternal Happiness) These appear to be based on idiomatic Chinese and Japanese expression, also found in Noh “Morihisa” play (Genpei war chronicle play – Taira no Morihisa) and teachings of the Lotus Sutra (j. itten shikai kaiki myōhō 一天四海皆帰妙法. The words “Itten shikai” are referred in the Tale of Heike (Heike Monogatari) war chronicle: “Itten shikai wo uchiosame tamaeba” (reigning over all heaven and oceans). The gold lacquer inscriptions are under a covering of mica.
