Browse Items (66 total)

Zushi (small portable shrine) of the female deity Benzaiten (originally the Hindu deity Saraswati), one of the Seven Lucky Deities. The exterior is covered with red paint or lacquer. Many of the objects originally carried in the deity's hands are…

A lacquer box and lid, decorated with a tree in gold. A kisen (Japanese pipe for smoking tobacco.) Two brass pieces, one in the shape of a lotus leaf.

Large wooden percussion instrument carved in the shape of a bell, painted red, gold and black, typically used in Buddhist rituals.

Small zushi (portable altar box) of a Buddhist deity, probably 11-Faced Kannon (Sanskrit: Avalokitesvara). The deity's right hand is extended in the "welcome" (Varada) mudra. Its left hand is broken. Several faces appear on its head. The deity is…

This is a Feng Shui compass dating back to as early as the 19th century. The region and the maker of the object is labeled on the back, indicating that the object originates from Xiuning County in Anhui province, China. This was one of many produced…

A disc-shaped object with a compass in the center, used in feng shui calculations. The eight trigrams circle the center; the surface of the disc is covered with minute lines and inscriptions in red and black.

A red-painted plaque inscribed in gold with the characters 天官賜福 (tianguan cifu: The Heavenly Official Bestows Happiness). A charm used for good luck in China.

A small statue of the male deity Daikokuten (Sanskrit: Mahakala) standing on a pair of rice sacks. His skin is black; he wears a mustache. In his left hand he holds a bag; his right hand is empty (he is normally depicted holding a mallet--this may be…

Wooden image of Daikokuten inside a small portable shrine. The exterior is painted red; the interior is painted gold. Drapery almost covers the image of the deity.

Small basked with a square lid, a handle, curved sides, and four feet.