Menuki – Severed Arm with Small Oni and Prayer Beads #191

A finely cast Edo-period menuki showing a severed arm with a small oni perched upon it. The oni’s horns, fanged mouth, and expressive features are clearly detailed, but instead of ferocity, it appears sorrowful, clinging to a set of juzu beads (Buddhist prayer beads) draped over the arm.

This unusual motif suggests themes of spiritual binding and the conquest of demonic power, resonating with legendary tales of oni subdued by warriors and monks. The severed arm recalls famous episodes such as the defeat of the Rashōmon demon Ibaraki-dōji by Watanabe no Tsuna, where the severed limb served as proof of victory.

Rich patination enhances the detail, and the small-scale sculptural quality of the work displays the artisan’s ability to convey narrative in miniature form

Dimensions: L 1in, W 2in, D 1in