A rare large early Edo period Japanese Temple Ranma. Carved from a single cut of depicting three legendary spirits in Japanese folklore. Bukan and his tiger is depicted coming forth from the trees and landscape. Bukan was a legendary Chan monk who lived in China during the Tang dynasty (618-907). Known for his eccentric behaviors, he was accompanied by a tiger.
The immortals Gama Sennin and Tekkai Sennin are also depicted amoungst the flourishing landscape. The two were often paired in Japanse and Chinese art because of the corresponding supernatural powers. Gama Sennin, known as the 'toad hermit' Three legged toad by which gama could release his spirit from his body, metamorphose, and fly with the aid of his magical companion.
Tekkai Sennin is the Japanese adaptation of one of the Eight Immortals. He was thought to be capable of leaving his body, some times traveling for extended periods. On one occasion, he asked a desciple to watch over his body and instructed him to burn it if his spirit did not return in seven days. ON the sixth day, however the disciples mother died, so he burned his master's body and went home. Returning of the seventh day, Tekkaiss spirit found his body gone, leaving him no choice but to adopt the corpse of the emaciated beggar that he found beside the road. Like Gama Sennin, he is associated with medicine and is traditionally represented with a gourd that signifies his ability to transcend the body and to offer healing.

Age: Early Edo Period (1603 - 1868)

Dimensions: 27" high x 86" wide x 2 7/8" thick