Kozan-ji Choju Giga Aka-e Rabbit and Frog Matcha Bowl
A vintage Japanese matcha bowl, decorated with inspiration from the Choju Giga (Frolicking Animals scrolls), one of the most representative works of traditional Japanese art, bringing the lively anthropomorphized poses of rabbits, frogs and other animals onto a warm, understated ceramic vessel. The Choju Giga is a celebrated classical Japanese picture scroll, and the surviving work has deep ties to Kozan-ji temple in Toganoo, Kyoto. In the painting, rabbits, frogs, monkeys and other animals imitate human activities, and the spirited brushwork presents scenes full of humor and vitality. Particularly worth noting is the side of the bowl, which bears the characters "Kozan-ji" within a rectangular frame, echoing the Choju Giga theme and giving the whole piece a distinctly classical Japanese artistic character.
