hashioki

Mouse eating a white radish decorated with the ideogram 'Fuku' (happiness)

Origin : Japan

Made of : porcelain - potery

Classification : creatures / mammals

Maker : ?

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About "mouse/rat" (nezumi - 子) :

The rat or mouse 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 :

In Japan, mice or rats are often paired with daikons (white radish) to express the symbol of fertility. Some daikons grow with two pointed ends looking like ladies legs and mice/rats are known to be very prolific animals.


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Rat stone statue in a shrine [source]
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Votive wooden plaques with rat [source]

 

 

 

About "white radish" (daikon - ダイコン or 大根) :

Daikon is a white radish commonly used in Japanese cuisine. It can measure up to 40 cm long and has a very mild taste. Daikons are often boiled or served as pickles.

Daikon sometimes grow with a pair of pointed ends looking like legs. In the Japanese tradition, this female shape is a sexual and fertility symbol. Mice or rats are often paired with a daikon to underline the fertility symbol as they are prolific animals.


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Daikon in a supermarket
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Daikon drying in the sun to make pickles photo rights

 

 

 

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