hashioki

Snake, white on rice pack ('kome dawara')

Origin : Japan

Made of : porcelain - potery

Classification : creatures / other animals

Maker : ?

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About "snake" (hebi - 巳) :

The snake is one of the twelve Chinese zodiac signs which are also used in Japan. In the Chinese zodiac, it's the year of birth which determines the sign as follows :


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Votive plaques with the symbol of the snake
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Pottery figurine for the year of the snake [source]

 

 

 

About "tawara - rice packs" (tawara - 俵) :

Tawara is a traditional straw bale (barrel shape pack) used to keep rice. Special tawara bales are partly buried around the sumo dohyō (ring) to mark its limits.


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Tawara style bales containing sake sold in a supermarket
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Statues of rats on tawara bales photo rights

 

 

 

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