| A – B – C – D – E – F – G – H – I – J – K – L – M – N – O – P – Q – R – S – T – U – V – W – X – Y – Z | |
| A | |
| Ainu | An aboriginal race of Caucasians whose dwindling population is centered around Shiraoi in Hokkaido |
| Akae | Porcelain with over glaze polychrome enamel with red |
| Akadama | |
| Akikusa | Fall season’s herbs and flowers |
| Amida Buddha | The Buddha who presides over the Pure Land |
| Aoi – No – Mon | Family’s crest of Tokugawa clan (Tokugawa Period 1603 – 1868) |
| Asakusa | A section of Tokyo famous for its amusements and entertainment. It formerly included the notorious Yoshiwara and was the home of Kokusai. |
| Ashi | A reed |
| B | |
| Badger teakettle | Emblem of a popular folk tale about a badger who disguised himself as a teakettle. When the priest put the kettle on to boil, the badger could not stand the heat and reverted to his true form, the kettle’s legs turning into paws and the spout into his heal. |
| Basho | The most eminent of the haiku poets, a group credited with exerting a strong influenced on many of the netsuke carvers |
| Bekko | Tortoise shell |
| Benkei | A large and powerful mountain priest who became the faithful retainer of the medieval hero Yoshitsune |
| Benten | Goddess of music, the only woman among the seven happy gods |
| Bento | A lunch box |
| Bizen | An unglazed stoneware produced near Okayama |
| Bon | A tray |
| Boxwood | A hard, fine close-grained wood much used by netsuke carvers |
| Budou (Budo – Kan) | The way, thought which Samurai should follow, (Bushi do) Budo – Kan = Building in Tokyo the stage of Sumo wrestling |
| Bugaku | An ancient form of music and dance drama performed with masks |
| Byobu | Folding screen |
| C | |
| Cha no yu | Tea ceremony or way of tea. It encompassed the tea ceremony and the connoisseurship of the fine and applied arts, as well as the study of literature, flower arranging, garden design, architecture, and Kaiseki cuisine that are associated with it. |
| Chagama | Iron kettle for tea |
| Cha-ire | Pottery or porcelain tea jar or tea caddy |
| Chuban | Size of Woodblock print- Ukiyoe Hanga |
| Chu – Natsume | Medium size of Natsume |
| D | |
| Daikoku | One of the seven happy gods, representing the wealth of the land. He wears hood, holding a Kozuchi (A small mallet: The symbol of Daikokuten When shaken by the god, this mallet is supposed to grant all wishes.) in his right hand, carrying treasure bag on his back and sitting on rice bales. |
| Daimyo | Lords in feudal Japan |
| Dou -sei | Made from copper |
| E | |
| Ebisu | One of the Seven Happy Gods, usually portrayed with a sea bream |
| Echizen – Nuri | |
| Edo (Tokugawa era) | The name of the period from 1603 to 1867, when Japan was ruled by the Tokugawa family; hence, also known as the Tokugawa Period |
| Emma-o | King of hell |
| F | |
| Fuchigashira | Top and bottom of sword hilt. |
| Fudo Myo-o | Buddhist deity and chief of the Five great kings of Light |
| Fuki Chomei | |
| Fukurokuju | God of wisdom and one of the Seven Happy Gods. |
| Funa danse | Sea chest |
| Futaoki | Lid rest of tea ceremony utensil |
| G | |
| Gagaku | Ceremonial music and dance usually reserved for the aristocracy |
| Gaho | Name of the Artist |
| Gama Sennin | Taoist forest or mountain dweller who remains youthful to an inordinate age and whose attribute is the toad. |
| Genji Episodes | Episodes from The Take of Genji, the celebrated eleventh-Century novel by Murasaki Shikibud |
| A – B – C – D – E – F – G – H – I – J – K – L – M – N – O – P – Q – R – S – T – U – V – W – X – Y – Z | |
| H | |
| Hagi | Bush clover, one of the seven Grasses of Autumn |
| Hagoita | A battledore for New year’s game |
| Hake-e | Painted by brush |
| Hake Shino | Shino wear with motif of the brush |
| Haiku | A formalized seventeen-syllable poem. It is terse, subtle, seasonable, and swift in its imagery |
| Haisen | Stem Bowl for Sake cup rinsing |
| Hako | Netsuke of box – and – cover |
| Hakuji | White porcelain |
| (Kake) Hanaire | A flower basket…. Kake Hanaire = Hanging flower basket |
| Hanga | A woodcut, a wood block print |
| Hanko | A stamped or impressed seal requiring the requiring of a seal carved in reverse in some hard material, and the use of seal pastes. It is thus distinguished from the kakihan, a seal written directly on the paper or silk in the case of painting or carved directly on the object in the case of sculpture. |
| Harimaze | Techniques of affixing objects like fans to screens |
| Haritsu (Ritsuo) Style | A famous lacquer artist of the early eighteenth century. His designs were highly original and were often embellished with inlays of porcelain or pewter |
| Heiando- sei | Made by Heiando |
| Hibatchi | A Japanese heating appliance using charcoal as fuel |
| Himotoshi | channel or passage for cord that holds inro and netsuke together |
| Hinoki | cypress |
| Hiramakie | Known as low relief, this techniques was introduced in the Kamakura period. A single layer of lacquer is applied to the ground, sprinkled with gold or silver powders, and allowed to dry. A coat of thin lacquer is then applied to fix the particles, and given a final polish. |
| Hira – Natsume | Flash shaped Natsume |
| Hirame | Flakes of gold, silver, koban, and tin, thicker and heavier than nashiji flakes |
| Hironobu | Born 1844 Worked in Meiji Period. Student of First Hironobu. |
| Hokyo Korin | |
| Hotei | One of the Seven Happy Gods. He is the Japanese Santa Claus. He has a huge belly, laughs constantly, loves children, and carries a treasure bag of gifts. |
| Hozan | |
| I | |
| Ichii | Yew wood, a favorite material for souvenir carvings of the Takayama district because of its pleasing two – tone grain |
| Iga | Stoneware from Iga area |
| Ikada | A raft |
| Ikebana | The Japanese art of flower arrangement |
| Imari | Type of porcelain made by kilns operating around Arita in Kyushu. |
| Inbande | |
| Ino | A wild boar |
| Inro | A portable, tiered medicine container worn suspended from the sash of the kimono. Originally these objects are thought to have functioned as cases for the owner’s personal seal and ink, and some inro equipped are still extant. |
| Ireko | Nested container |
| Iroe | Technique of making colored pictures by inlaying metals of various hues. |
| J | |
| Jubako | Stacked food box |
| Junishi | The twelve zodiacal signs. Ne = Rat, Ushi = Ox, Tora = Tiger, U = Hare ,Tatsu = Dragon, Mi = Snake, Uma = Horse, Hitsuji = Sheep, Saru = Monkey, Tori = Cock, Inu = Dog, I = Boar. |
| Jurojin | The god of wisdom among the Seven Happy Gods. He is represented with an elongated head to contain his massive brain and is often portrayed with a deer, a crane, or a turtle. |
| K | |
| Kabuki | A picture (color print) of everyday life in the Edo period. “Paintings of the floating world”; ukiyoe constituted a genre art style that flourished from the seventeenth to the nineteenth centuries, Ukiyoe prints depicted themes from the life of common townspeople, landscapes, Kabuki actors, geisha, and suchlike |
| Kagamibuta | A type of netsuke consisting of a metal lid fitted in a bowl made of ivory or some other material |
| Kagura | Sacred ceremonial dances, usually performed at Shinto shrines |
| Kakejiku (Kakemono) | Hanging scroll |
| Kakemono | Hanging scroll with painting or calligraphy or both |
| Kaki urushi | |
| Kakihan | Written or carved seal of monogram as distinguished from a stamped or impressed seal |
| Kanji | Chinese characters adopted by the Japanese in their written language. Most Kanji have two basic pronunciations, one Japanese (kundoku), the other Japanized pronunciation of the Chinese (Ondoku) . In addition there are often second and third alternate readings. These various readings present a formidable obstacle to the collector trying to decipher a netsuke signature. Familiarity with the signature as a display is the usual method of learning. |
| Kannon | A Buddha who is revered as the goddess of mercy in Japan and connected with the Lotus Sutra; there are numerous, varying representations of Kannon |
| Kannon biraki | front – opening double- doors chest |
| Kano school | School of screen painting begun in the Muromachi period and lasting until the end of the Edo period |
| Karako | Literally, “Chinese child” or “Chinese children”. |
| Karakusa | Arabesques in floral patterns |
| Karamatsu | Chinese pine |
| Karamono | Chinese article or Chinese – style article, also known as tohbutsu |
| Katami Gawari | A momoyama design motif resembling a lightning bolt |
| Karatsu | Pottery from Karatsu area |
| Katamono Kogo Sometsuke | |
| Kanzan Jittoku | Jittoku: one of the Four Sleepers (the others being Kanzan, Bukan, Zenshi, and a tiger); he carries a scroll, which he is reading to Kanzan. Zittoku: Another of the Four Sleepers, he carries a broom. |
| Kensui | tea ceremony utensil |
| Keyaki | Zeilova wood, prized for furniture making |
| Kiji – Rinka | |
| Kijimage | |
| Kiku gata | The shape or of chrysanthemum |
| Kikyo | Bluebell or balloon flower one of the seven grasses of Autumn |
| Kimono | Traditional Japanese clothes |
| Kimpaku | Thin kanagai gold foil |
| Kimpun | Gold power |
| Kinji | A heavily sprinkled, powered – gold ground that takes on a shiny finish when polished. This technique was introduced in the late Edo period. |
| Kinji – Makie | Gold Makie |
| Kinrande | Porcelain with overgraze polychrome enamel with gold |
| Kinrinji | Type of lacquer finish |
| Kintsunagi | Using gold for restoration, mostly for ceramics |
| Kiri, Kiri -wood | A paulownia |
| Kiseru | Smoking Pipe |
| Ki – Seto | Yellow colored Seto wear |
| Kiyomizu | A type of pottery made in Kyoto |
| Kji | The core, form, or base of a lacquer object, usually made of wood |
| Kobako | Incense box. Usually larger than a kogo. |
| Kochi | Pottery from Vietnam |
| Koetsu | Famous lacquer artist |
| Kogo | Incense container |
| Ko – Kutani – Utsushi | |
| Ko – Natsume | Small shaped natsume |
| Koma | A top |
| Konnichi – An | Present grand Tea Master of Urasenke Foundation (15th Hounsai) |
| Korin | Famous painter and lacquer artist |
| Korin Ogata | Painter of the Tokugawa Period noted for colorful screen paintings |
| Kosai | |
| Kougai | Ornamental hair pins with Makie work |
| Koyomide | Desined of twelve months of the calendar for teabowl using in Chano-yu |
| Kugi bori | Design made by nail as a carving |
| Kunimasa Utagawa | Pupil of Toyokuni. Worked from about 1795 to about 1805. Designed some actor prints in his master’s best manner. His prints are extremely rare and are prized especially by French connoisseurs, who regard Kunimasa as a sort of lesser Sharaku. He died young and thus escaped the avalanche of degradation which descended on ukiyo-e during the early decades of the nineteenth century (1773-1810) |
| Kunisada | Wood Block artist (1830 – 43) |
| Kunisada II | Wood Block artist (around 1867) |
| Kuniteru II Utagawa Kuniteru |
Wood Block artist (around 1865) |
| Kuniyoshi | Utagawa Kuniyoshi ; pupil of Utagawa Toyoharu, he was a skilled landscape artist whose prints show some western influence (1797 – 1861) |
| Kuro | Black |
| Kuro Karatsu | Black Colored Karatsu wear |
| Kuro – Raku | Black raku wear |
| Kushi | Comb, usually decorated by Makie |
| Kusunoki Masashige | Medieval warrior |
| Kutani | The porcelain products from Kanazawa area, which have become so famous worldwide |
| Kutani Shozan | Artist of Kutani ware (1816 – 83) |
| Kyoto School | |
| Kyo yaki | Kyoto ceramics |
| Kyogen | comic interludes between Noh dramas |
| A – B – C – D – E – F – G – H – I – J – K – L – M – N – O – P – Q – R – S – T – U – V – W – X – Y – Z | |
| M | |
| Magemono -shi | Craftsman who specialized in bending or shaping thin sheets of wood |
| Makie | A sprinkling of gold. The technique of sprinkling metallic or pigmented powers on a wet lacquer ground to form a composition or design. |
| Manju | A type of netsuke named for its similarity in shape to the manju, or round, flat rice cake. |
| Maru tsubo | Round shaped vase |
| Marugata | The round shape |
| Masanao of Ise | A designation to include the Masanaos of Ise-Yamada. They are Isshinsai, Miyake II, Miyake III , Shawa, and Suzuki |
| Mashiko | Pottery from Mashiko area |
| Masu (box) | Measure for liquids and solids |
| Material of Netsuke | Boar tooth, boar tusk, boxwood, hornbill ivory, ivory, kigai, lacquer, stag antler, umimatsu, umoregi, wood |
| Meiji | From 1868A.D to 1912A.D. |
| Menou | Agata |
| Mingei | Folk art |
| Mizusashi | A water jug, a pitcher, a carafe which is for tea ceremony utensil |
| Mokugyo | Wooden gong used in Buddhist rituals |
| Mokume | A design technique simulating the natural grain of wood |
| Monme | Measure of weight (3.75g) for precious materials |
| Musashi no zu | |
| Musubi Noshi | Design as a tie paper work for free gift wrapping |
| N | |
| Nagamochi (Hasamiba) | Hamper |
| Nagoya school | |
| Nakamura Soetsu | Artist for Lacquer family |
| Nakatsugi | Type of a tea container – Natsume |
| Natshiko | Artist name for ceramics |
| Natsume | Lacquer tea caddy |
| Nagamotchi | A large oblong chest (for clothing, personal effects, etc) |
| Negoro | Red over black lacquer polished out to give a blotched effect |
| Netsuke | Toggle attached to inro, tonkotsu, tobacco pouch, etc. by a cord and hung at the waist – also see Material of Netsuke |
| Noh (Play) | Formalized dance – drama in which the main character (shite) wears a mask |
| Noren | Short, divided curtain hung at the entrance of a shop and bearing its name or crest |
| O | |
| O – ban | Size of Woodblock print- Ukiyoe Hanga, 37.5cm x 25cm approx. |
| Obi | The sash for securing the kimono about the body. The woman’s obi is wide and stiff; the man’s, narrow and soft Fukuro – Obi = Maru – Obi = |
| Ohgi – Gata | The shape of Ohg (a folding fan) |
| Ohara – Bon | |
| Ohichiban | The final match for victory. |
| Ojime | Bead that slides on cord between netsuke and inro for tightening or loosing |
| Okame | (Also know as Ofuku, Otafuku, Uzume) She is the epitome of the likable, homely housewife and is usually represented in ribald performances at village harvest festivals. Her mask is sometimes used in the Kyogen |
| Okame san | round – faced, smiling woman, the ideal of feminine good nature |
| Okatomo | One of the early, great netsuke carvers, famous for his animal subjects (active before 1781). |
| Okimono | Ornament for shelf or tokonoma, As a carved object |
| Okina & Ona | The respected way to say old man (Okina) and woman (Ona) |
| Oni | Demon, devil, fiend. The oni form a pantheon causing winds and storms, thunder and lighting, waves and floods, or general mischief |
| Oribe | A type of pottery produced at the Mino Kilns in Gifu. It is characterized by a green glaze and bold design |
| Otoshizutsu (style) | The dropped or inserted part that fits into it |
| R | |
| Raden | Thick pearl – shell inlay |
| Raku yaki | Raku ware, a type of pottery produced in Kyoto |
| Reishi | A type of mushroom for longevity |
| Rimpa (Style) | School of painting begun during the Azuchi – Momoyama period that often used precious materials like gold and silver on screens, fans, etc |
| Ryusa style | The carver credited with originating the type of netsuke that bears his name |
| Ryushin | |
| S | |
| Suda Seika | Artist of Kutani ware (1862 – 1927) |
| sagi | A white egret or Heron |
| Saigyo | A Japanese traveling priest often represented with staff and pilgrim hat and viewing mount Fuji |
| Sakazuki | A sake cup |
| Sakuragawa | |
| Sanbasou | |
| Sansui -Zu | A landscape, scenery |
| Satsuma (-yaki) | A type of pottery and porcelain produced in Kyushu |
| Saya | Sheath |
| Sennin | Taoist hermits of forest and mountain who live inordinately long lives |
| Seto Turihana Ire | Hanging flower vase in the style of Seto Kiln |
| Setoyu | |
| Setsubun | Bean – throwing celebration (after lunar new year) to expel demons and welcome good fortune |
| Shibayama | A decorative technique in which various materials such as ivory, coral, and shell are inlaid to form the design. The techniques is named for the artist who devised it. |
| Shichi fuku Jin | Seven happy gods, Daikokutenn, Yebisu, Bishamonten, Benzaiten, Fukurokuju, Zyurojin, Hotei |
| Shigisan Koma (a top) | Kiln at Mt. Shigi in Nara prefecture. |
| Shikishi | A square piece of fancy paper for writing a poem on |
| Shikishi bako | A fitted box containing poetry writing |
| Shikishi Kake | A hanger for Shikishi |
| Shikunshi | The four gentlemanly plants – plum blossom, bamboo, chrysanthemum, and orchid |
| Shin nuri | |
| Shino (wear) | |
| Shiro | White |
| Shinto | The basic religion of Japan, a form of nature, spirit, and ancestor worship |
| Shozan | |
| Shiribari | Type of tea container – Natsume |
| Shishi | A kind of lion often appearing in pairs as guardians of Shinto shrines. The shishi is also known as the Kara-shishi( Chinese Lion) and the Koma-inu |
| Sho Chiku Bai | Pine, bamboo and plum blossoms in combination. Symbol for auspicious occasion in Japan |
| Shojo – ji | |
| Shokudai | Canndle stand |
| Showa | From 1926/12-25 to 1989/1/7 |
| Shoraku | |
| Shoshi – Bon | |
| Shudei | |
| Shunuri | |
| Sigaraki | Stoneware from Shigaraki area |
| Soba – choko | Cup for buckwheat noodle |
| Sohen | |
| Sokoku | |
| Somada | Technique of inlaying shell fragments of blue, green and violet in a lacquer ground |
| Sometsuke | |
| Sotetsu Utsushi | |
| Sugawara, Michizana | Heian – period scholar later deified as god of learning |
| Suimono – Wan | |
| Sukashi bori | |
| Sumi | Black ink (India ink) used in calligraphy and painting. |
| Sumidagawa (yaki) | The name of the river in Tokyo Four corner shaped Kogo typical style of Katamono Kogo Sometsuke for Chano – yu |
| Sumie | Black-ink painting |
| Suri | Rubbed, chafed, filed, grinded, pounded |
| Susuki | Pampas grass |
| Suzuri (bako) | Ink stone box. A fitted box containing writing implements such as an ink stand, a water dropper , and brushes |
| T | |
| Taisho | From 1912/7/30 to 1926/12/25 |
| Takamakie | Known as high relief, this technique involves building up a design using two or more layers of lacquer or lacquer compounds. The final surface is usually decorated. |
| Takarabune | A treasure ship |
| Take-e | Bamboo motif |
| Take-ki | A shape of bamboo container |
| Tamagushi (Tamakanz) | Ornamental hair pins with gem stones |
| Tamenuri | |
| Tanba | |
| Tansu | Chest of drawers with decorative hardware Cha dansu = A cupboard for teathings |
| Tanuki | A badger |
| Tatejima | A vertical stripe |
| Tatsu no Otoshigo | Sea horse |
| Tenmoku | |
| Tesage – Dansu | |
| Teshoku | Handheld candle stand |
| Togidashi | A technique simulating a rusted iron finish. |
| Tokkuri | A sake bottle |
| Tokonoma | Decorative alcove of a Japanese room, where a seasonal scroll and flower arrangement are traditionally placed |
| Tomobako | The original wooden box in which an object is stored after completion by the artist. It usually has an inscription on the lid and is signed on the inside. |
| Tonbo-dama | |
| Tonkotsu | Distinguished from inro in several ways. The tonkotsu is a container for tobacco; the inro, for medicines. The tonkotsu usually has only a single compartment; the inro; the inro, usually more than one. Tonkotsu are most often made of wood; inro, most often of lacquer. Tonkotsu are generally bulkier and bolder; inro, smaller and more elegant. Tonkotsu were carried by the lower classes, while inro were intended for the aristocrats. Unfortunately there appears to be no article, let alone a book, devoted to tonkotsu. Literature on the subject may be nonexistent. |
| Toyokuni | Utagawa Toyokuni; an Ukiyoe artist famous for his representations of actors (1773 – 1856) |
| Toyokuni III | Pupil of Toyokuni. Assumed the Toyokuni name in 1844, becoming known as Toyokuni III. Designed a vast number of prints of actors and beautiful women. His later work is a reflection of the taste and customs of the closing decades of the Tokugawa period, and Kunisada was a favorite of the public at the time.(1786-1864) |
| Tsutsubana ire | Cylinder shaped flower vase |
| Turu kubi | A shape of crane neck used for flower vases |
| U | |
| Uchidashi | also Copper |
| Ukiyoe | A picture (color print) of everyday life in the Edo period |
| Usu | A mortar |
| Usubata | |
| Uzumaki | A spiral |
| W | |
| Wajima – Kugibori | |
| Y | |
| Yagen | Grinde herbs for medicine |
| Yakan | Tea pot |
| Yakishime | |
| Yamabushi | A mountain priest (ascetic) who sometimes engaged in politics and fight as warriors |
| Yamashita Kiyoshi | |
| Yasai Kago | The basket for vegetables |
| Yoshimasa | |
| Yoshitsune | Minamono Yoshitsune: great medieval hero who led a martial and adventurous life on behalf of the Genji clan. Half – brother of Yoritomo ; after helping Yoritomo defeat the Taira clan, Yoshitsune fell out with his half – brother, was forced to flee, and eventually committed suicide (1159 – 1189) |
| Yunomi | Tea cup for daily use for Japanese life style |
| Z | |
| Zabuton | A floor cushion |
| Zen | Form of Buddhism traditionally said to have been brought to Japan from China by Bodhidharma (Daruma) |
| Zizai | |
| Zohiko | |
| Zuizan | |
Bibliography
Frances Bushell, Takarabukuro
Art Media Resources, Ltd., Chicago, 2001
Raymond Bushell, NETSUKE MASKS
Weatherhill, New York, Tokyo, 1985
Raymond Bushell, Netsuke Familiar & Unfamiliar New Principles for Collecting
Weatherhill, New York, Tokyo, 1975
Raymond Bushell, THE INRO HANDBOOK
Weatherhill, New York, Tokyo, 1979
Raymond Bushell, COLLECTOR’S NETSUKE
Weatherhill, New York, Tokyo, 1971
Barbara Teri Okada, Symbol & Substance in Japanese Lacquer
Weatherhill, New York, Tokyo, 1995
Barbara Teri Okada, A Sprinking of Gold
The Newark Museum, 1985