Paintings by Ozuma Kaname

© Ozuma Kaname

Dragon vs. tiger

The tiger, symbol of fire, and the dragon, symbol of water, are often portrayed as adversaries, representing the heaven-earth or ying-yang dichotomy.

Note that the tiger is quite naturalistic, whereas the dragon is an entirely mythical beast, and more like a snake with legs and horns than the giant lizard form of Western dragon.

This puzzle is also available in 2000 pieces (code A20047).

In stock
An Appleone puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: A10311 (1000-311 on package)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$28.85 €25.86 £22.06)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$11.54 €10.34 £8.82)
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© Ozuma Kaname

Four gods

In Chinese mythology these four gods occupy the four corners of the cosmos: the white tiger in the west, the blue dragon in the east, the red phoenix (Suzaku) in the south, and the mysterious Genbu in the north. Mysterious, because Genbu apparently turns up as a snake and a turtle entwined together, which is why there are five heads in the picture. These deities are associated with feng shui, and have also appeared in Japanese animations, so they are easy to find on the Web.

In stock
An Appleone puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: A10764 (1000-764 on package)
Retail price ¥3200 (approx. US$30.77 €27.59 £23.53)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$11.54 €10.34 £8.82)
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© Ozuma Kaname

Dog family with Kishimojin

The dog has long been taken as a symbol of easy childbirth, and here the litter of puppies (six in all) sit with their mother at the foot of Kishimojin. This latter has an interesting story - her name is literally "Devil-child-mother-god", and she started out as an evil character, whose favourite activity was eating other people's babies. But she was persuaded by Shaka-sama (the historical Buddha) to reform, and became a protector of children and augurer of easy childbirth.

More on Kishimojin at Mark Schumacher's Buddhist Corner

In stock
A Yanoman puzzle: 1000 pieces; 50 x 75 cm (20" x 30")
Code: Y101296 (10-1296 on package)
Retail price ¥3000 (approx. US$28.85 €25.86 £22.06)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$11.54 €10.34 £8.82)
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© Ozuma Kaname

Tiger vs. Dragon

The classic duo from the four protector gods: the tiger quite naturalistic, but the dragon a fantastic scaly snake-like body with fierce fangs, talons, and horns.

In stock
A Yanoman puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: Y101311 (10-1311 on package)
Retail price ¥3200 (approx. US$30.77 €27.59 £23.53)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$11.54 €10.34 £8.82)
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© Ozuma Kaname

Owl family

An owl family by moonlight. Owls are traditionally seen as symbols of wisdom, and here the mother display her care for the chicks.

In stock
A Yanoman puzzle: 1000 pieces; 75 x 50 cm (30" x 20")
Code: Y101312 (10-1312 on package)
Retail price ¥3200 (approx. US$30.77 €27.59 £23.53)
Shipping from ¥1200 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$11.54 €10.34 £8.82)
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© Ozuma Kaname

Owl

Perhaps universally revered as wise (though I wonder if it's just the Harry Potter spectacles?), the owl is here portrayed as a harbinger of good fortune.

The title - word play

luck

come

male

Instead of writing fukurô, "owl", in the normal way, the Japanese title of the painting consists of the somewhat contrived sequence of Chinese characters shown on the left.

In stock
An Appleone puzzle: 300 pieces; 38 x 26 cm (15" x 10")
Code: A03170 (300-170 on package)
Retail price ¥1500 (approx. US$14.42 €12.93 £11.03)
Shipping from ¥500 (N. America, Europe, Australasia: approx. US$4.81 €4.31 £3.68)
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