RARE TAISHO Display Cabinet DRAGON myths 1910 Japan ART Start Price USD 40,000.00 Current Price USD 40,000.00 Time Left 10 hours 42 minutes Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Sunday, October 05, 2008 End Time Thursday, December 04, 2008 Location honolulu, HI See more about 'RARE TAISHO Display Cabinet DRAGON myths 1910 Japan ART' Description  7’.5” H x 4’2” W  x 1’4.5”D TAISHO PERIOD DISPLAY CABINETThis rare circa 1912 Japanese Taisho Period Display Cabinet is a one-of-a-kind art piece and that is suitable for use in a temple or museum, at the entrance of a sophisticated restaurant or grand hotel, or in a distinguished estate home. Exquisitely carved of rosewood, this antique Asian art piece measures an impressive 7 feet 6 inches in height, 4 feet 1 inch in width, and 1 foot 5 inches in depth. The round case is supported by a four-footed, magnificently carved base and crowned by a large dragon motif carving. Inside the cabinet is multi-level shelves and carved decorations depicting the volcanic creation of the Japanese archipelago.Japanese Mythology: Izanagi and IzanamiAt first, according to the Kigi, heaven and earth were not separated and the universe was a chaotic mass shaped like an egg but with no defined limits. The purer, clearer part became heaven and the heavier part became the earth. At this stage, the land floated about like a fish on the surface of the primeval ocean.The first three deities came into being, starting with the Center of Heaven Deity, who reflects the old Chinese concept of heaven (T'ien) which influenced Japanese cosmology and is thought to have been the origin of the Japanese word for Emperor (Tenno).The next two deities represent the creative energy or generative potency that gave birth to all things. This triad of highly abstract concepts was followed by a fourth deity in the form of a reed-shoot, symbolizing the birth of all things from a reed-like substance in the primeval ocean of mud. Reed here is a symbol of life shooting up into existence.Then came a fifth deity, who stands for the establishment of Takamagahara, or Heaven. These five high beings are the Separate Heavenly Deities, who for some unknown reason are separated from the other gods and put in a special category. They are all celestial gods, as distinct from the next group, who are regarded as earthly gods.In the next period 12 more deities appeared, the last two of whom were a brother-sister pair, Izanagi and Izanami. The heavenly deities commanded Izanagi and Izanami to complete and consolidate the creation of land, and gave them the Heavenly Jeweled Spear. The two stood on the Heavenly Floating Bridge, thrust the spear down and stirred the ocean with a churning sound. When they lifted the spear again, the brine dripped down from its tip and coagulated into an island.Izanagi (male) and Izanami (female) descended from the heavens to this island and erected a a heavenly pillar and a spacious palace. Then they discovered that they were of different sexes and they circle round the heavenly pillar, the male going to the left and the female to the right, in order to consummate their marriage when they met. Unfortunately, in her delight and excitement Izanami spoke first when they met and said: "Oh, what a beautiful and amiable youth!" This angered Izanagi and the consequence was the procreation of two children who were in defective and whom their parents repudiated.The young couple went back to heaven to seek advice from the heavenly deities, who decided that the fault lay in the female's having spoken first. Izanagi and Izanami returned to the island and once again circled round the pillar. This time, Izanagi spoke first when they met and praised his young wife, receiving praise from her in return. The "correct" order in courtship made it possible for them to produce numerous offspring and from this marriage were born Oh-yashima-guni ("the great-eight-island-land," an ancient name for Japan) and the smaller islands of the Japanese archipelago.After bearing the land, the two bore numerous deities, but when Izanami gave birth to the god of fire, Kagutsuchi-no-kami, her genitals were burned so badly that she soon passed away to Yomi-no-kuni, the underworld or land of the dead. Izanagi, weeping and lamenting, buried his beloved wife on Mount Hiba on the border of Izumo Province. He then drew a long sword and cut off the head of the child who had caused her death. Out of the blood and body of the fire-god many more deities came into being. A true Museum Quality piece of art!Please note: The only form of payment accepted for this sale is a bank wire transfer.if any other payment method is used, the buyer is expected to pay for those fees. The packing, handling and shipping rate might actually be more once the items are packed and the destination is decided. At that time I will send a bill for the balance before shipping.Please ask any and all questions before bidding, as all sales are final. Failure to ask any and all questions about the item for auction before bidding is the full responsibility of the buyer. In the rare instance of an acceptable return, there will be a 25% fee. Place a Bid!