Tora Fuchi/Kashira - K009

This made in Japan Fuchi & Kashira set features a tiger. The first appearance of the tiger in Japanese litterature is in the Nihon Shoki (720) an tells the story of a Japanese ambassador in the Korean peninsula who had his child grabbed by a tiger. He pursued the tiger, slew it with his sword and brought back its sking with him to Japan. Tigers not being indigenous to Japan, they mainly looked mysterious and "cool" to the Japanese over the centuries and it came to symbolize bravery and dignity. Because the tiger was thought to be especially protective of its young, lucky tiger goods were used to pray for the health and safety of children.
This model is of what is called "Jidai" style, which correspond to a flat shaped Kashira.

• Fuchi:
  - Material: Copper plated brass, blackened, with gold gilding
  - Dimensions (length x height x width): 40 mm x 23 mm x 10.5 mm
  
• Kashira:
  - Material: Copper plated brass, blackened, with gold gilding
  - Dimensions (length x height x width): 35.5 mm x 18 mm x 9 mm