AN UNUSUAL WOOD NETSUKE DEPICTING KINKO SENNIN WITH A BRUSH AND FISHUnsigned Japan, late 18th to early 19th century, Edo period (1615-1868)The immortal Qin Gao standing and holding a fish with horn-inlaid eyes and an inlaid brush in his hands, his elegant Chinese robes flowing with finely carved and darkly stained folds, his expressively carved face with a cheerful expression, the mouth wide open, his hair and long chin beard neatly incised, the back with two asymmetrical himotoshi, the larger of which is generously excavated to accommodate the knot.HEIGHT 8.1 cmCondition: Excellent condition with minor wear.The present netsuke is unusual as Kinko Sennin is usually depicted seated atop a giant fish. The Daoist sage spent the first 200 years of his life painting fish and would never harm or eat them out of respect. He was invited by the Dragon King to be his guest, so Kinko told his students he would return and rode the fish under the water into the river kingdom. Upon returning he meet Kannon, who gave him a scroll teaching the Buddhist way of protecting all life.