Daoist Immortal Tōbōsaku Sennin 1767 - 1833

Ryūminsai carved this small ivory sculpture of Tōbōsaku Sennin, a Daoist immortal, during the late 18th or early 19th century in Japan. The figure, emaciated and carrying a peach, embodies Daoist ideals of longevity and spiritual transcendence through ascetic practices. The netsuke tradition, to which this sculpture belongs, flourished during the Edo period. Artisans catered to the rising merchant class who were looking for ornamental yet functional toggles for their kimonos. This reflects a shift in patronage away from the traditional elite, which impacted artistic production. The choice of Tōbōsaku Sennin as a subject speaks to the blending of Chinese Daoist beliefs with Japanese culture and to a fascination with themes of health and long life. To fully understand a netsuke like this, we would need to research the social and economic context of the Edo period, looking at merchant culture, religious beliefs, and artistic patronage. The figure could then reveal much more about the dynamics of Japanese society at the time.