Japanese swords, £18.00
Wooden netsuke: Ashinaga and Tenaga
Edo period, 18th-19th century AD
Two mythical Chinese fishermen, Ashinaga ('Long Legs') and Tenaga ('Long Arms') lived on the sea shore somewhere in northern China. Here they combine forces to catch an octopus. Ashinaga wades through the water with his long legs, while Tenaga stretches for the octopus with his long arms. But Ashinaga's long legs get entangled with the creature and they struggle to free him.