Description
An ivory okimono depciting an old man and a wolf, Japan, Meiji period, ca. 1910.
Wolves symbolize Shinto gods. Shinto, the indigenous Japanese faith, consists of gods that represent natural elements and concepts including the wind, fertility, mountains, and more. In Shinto, wolves represent the messenger of these spirits. They are also regarded as protectors of nature.
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An ivory okimono depciting an old man and a wolf, Japan, Meiji period, ca. 1910.
