Two Mythical Creatures (Tengu) Carrying a Parcel
Not on view
The tengu were originally thought to take the form of birds of prey and were depicted with both human and bird characteristics. The beaks of the earliest representations were later humanized as unnaturally long noses. This netsuke of a pair of winged creatures carrying a heavy load wrapped in textile, offers a fascinating glimpse of some of the most represented characters in Japanese folklore.
This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.