Zen Kokeshi - by Kato Kuen circa 1960

Doll made by kato-san, a priest in a temple dedicated to kannon-ji on mount koya. This mountain, southeast of osaka, gave its name to a complex of 117 buddhist temples. Kato kuen was a member of the imperial family. He tirelessly turned dolls in the image of kannon (a sort of our lady of compassion.) - this kokeshi is sparsely decorated with black and gold. The doll contains a personal prayer inside the base. The bun is a reference to buddha. This doll embodies the buddhist philosophy that to achieve enlightenment, one must lead a simple and frugal life. Traces of handling. ------- about kokeshis kokeshi appeared in the 1820s-40s (end of the edo era). Originally, they were made from scraps of wood by craftsmen and farmers and sold to the people of the city. They were toys for little girls, or offered as a token of love or friendship; or symbolized the desire to have a healthy child. The doll comes from a shinto communion with nature (forest / wood / landscape). Their bun is an evocation of buddha. A note on the artist, as well as a detailed explanation on the art of kokeshis will be given to the purchaser.