A VERY LARGE ‘FIVE-HUNDRED HUNDRED RAKAN, KARAKO AND KARASHISHI’ SATSUMA EARTHENWARE LIDDED INCENSE BURNER, KORO JAPAN, TAISHO TO SHOWA PERIOD The body of globular shape resting on three caryatid legs shaped as karako (boys), with a waisted neck and an everted rim, two handles shaped as karashishi (foo dogs) and a bell-shaped lid topped by a large finial also shaped as a karashishi. The lid is open-worked to several points to let the incense smoke go out.The outer part is finely painted with the ‘Five hundred rakans’ theme (or ‘Five hundred arhats’). There is an inscription on the inner part of the lid (unidentified because partially vanished). H: 41 cm Note: The ‘Five hundred arhats rakans’ is a Buddhist art subject developed in China featuring large numbers of Indian wise men usually accompanied by servants. The origin of the grouping is unknown, although several Chinese texts mention rakan as protective saints, who guard the Buddhist law until the coming of Miroku (Maitreya), the Buddha of the Future. The Chinese believe that Five hundred arhats inhabited a peak beyond the Stone Bridge Shakkyou on Mount Tiantai.