Description:
Japanese netsuke. A male figure with long arms (Tenaga) on the back of a standing male figure with long legs (Ashinaga). There is one hole on the back for functional use.

Label Text:
According to Japanese legend, Ashinaga and Tenaga were anthropomorphic creatures that resided near the sea. Tenaga’s long arms were ideal for catching fish, while Ashinaga possessed long legs, allowing him to wade into the waters far from shore. Together they formed a symbiotic relationship with Tenaga astride the shoulders of Ashinaga, an arrangement that permitted them to catch many more fish. The two are always portrayed with exotic hairstyles, emphasizing their mythical stature.

Tags:
legends

Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=MH+1986.30.32

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