A wood bokuto of kabutowari form, carved with the design of a sponge-gourd (Hechima in Japanese)
Signed: 吐龍斎古山 Toryusai Kozan with a kao.
Toryusai Kozan was a very fine craftsman, who was active until the 1850's. Born in 1787, his skill developed to a level, certainly in the carving of walnuts (kurumi) that only Hidari Issan could rival. Please see link for an example. The artist also produced very fine Tomozutsu (smoking assemblies) in an austere-taste, decorated with classical designs and verse.
Inscribed: 世能中声越、奈んの邊智萬登、於毛へとも、婦羅りとなりて、くらしさ礼もせ須
Translated: "I try to think of this world as just a silly gourd— but in the end, I still have to muddle through like everyone else."
The poem is almost a direct quote of the famous crazy poem (Kyoka) composed by Rikkatei Bokutan (1710-1773) 栗柯亭木端, who was a second-generation head of the Osaka Ritsu School of Kyoka who originally trained as a priest.
The verse (kyōka) plays with the word 糸瓜 (Hechima "sponge gourd"), which was slang for "nothing" "nonsense" or "who cares". The poem's humor comes from pretending to take a carefree, blasé attitude toward the world, only to admit that one can't actually live that way.
54.2cm
