Antique Netsuke of Fukurokuju hermit sage, with Buffalo antler container, Edo

Description

Antique Netsuke of Fukurokuju hermit sage, with Buffalo antler container.
Fukurokuju
(
福禄寿
; from Japanese
fuku
, "happiness";
roku
, "wealth"; and
ju
, "longevity") is one of the Seven Lucky Gods in Japanese mythology.  It has been theorized that he is a Japanese assimilation of the Chinese Three Star Gods (Fu Lu Shou) embodied in one deity. Most related in appearance to the Chinese star god Shou, he is the God of wisdom and longevity.
According to some, before attaining divinity, he was a Chinese hermit of the Song Dynasty and a reincarnation of the Taoist Deity, Xuantian Shangdi. It is said that during his human incarnation, he was a sennin; a immortal who could exist without eating food.
Fukurokuju probably originated from an old Chinese tale about a mythical Chinese Taoist hermit sage renowned for performing miracles in the Northern Song period (960–1127). In China, this hermit (also known as Jurōjin) was thought to embody the celestial powers of the south polar star. Fukurokuju was not always included in the earliest representations of the Seven in Japan. He was instead replaced by Kichijōten (goddess of fortune, beauty, and merit). He is now, however, an established member of the Seven Lucky Gods.
From Edo period
Container
size : 60 x 40 mm
Netsuke Size: ~ 900 mm long