395 - Large Bronze Kōro depicting the Legend of Zhang Liang and Huang Shigong An imposing bronze censer of large, powerful proportions. Atop the dome-shaped cover stands a female figure upon a rocky mountain peak, a bird perched above her head, with a coiled dragon beneath her.

Large Bronze Kōro depicting the Legend of Zhang Liang and Huang Shigong An imposing bronze censer of large, powerful proportions. Atop the dome-shaped cover stands a female figure upon a rocky mountain peak, a bird perched above her head, with a coiled dragon beneath her. On the two front panels of the spherical body, the celebrated Chinese legend of Zhang Liang and Huang Shigong is cast in high relief. One side depicts the aged immortal Huang Shigong, staff in hand, set against a backdrop of a waterfall and a pine tree; the other depicts the young Zhang Liang, a sword at his waist, reverently holding up the immortal's sandal. On either side, dragon-form handles rise dramatically, their scale-covered bodies coiled and their clawed feet gripping the vessel. A band of ruyi-head motifs encircles the shoulder, while borders of thunder-pattern (leiwen) decorate the mouth rim and foot. W: 47cm H: 83.5cm D: 31cm With a chip. Japan, Meiji to Taisho period