ICHIOKA SHIUN (BORN 1879) A Bronze Okimono of Fugen Bosatsu Seated Atop an Elephant Meiji era (1868-1912), early 20th centuryProperty of various ownersICHIOKA SHIUN (BORN 1879)A Bronze Okimono of Fugen Bosatsu Seated Atop an Elephant Meiji era (1868-1912), early 20th centuryA youthful Fugen Bosatsu (Samantabhadra), the bodhisattva of Universal Goodness, Virtue, and Worthiness, his hair down and draping over his shoulders, sitting cross-legged on a lotus-leaf shaped saddle or carpet while reading a handscroll, on top of his elephant companion who is at rest, the elephant adorned with multiple strands of jewels, signed Shiun saku on the back 9 3/4in (24.8cm) highIchioka Shiun, a pupil of Ōshima Joun, won multiple awards for his craftsmanship, one of which is illustrated in Bijutsu Gahō (The Magazine of Art), 28/1 (June 5, 1910), "A Bronze Vase with the Figure of Two Deer. By Shiun Ichioka. Awarded the bronze medal at 23rd Competition Show of Sculpture, Autumn of 1908," accessible at tobunken.go.jp/materials/materials-image/gahou/28_01/gh_28_01_0013.jpg.