Lacquered wood Figure representing the deity Ashinaga, Japan, early 20th C

Lacquered wood sculpture depicting Ashinaga (“Long-Legged Man”), a legendary figure from Japanese folklore. Often associated with his companion Tenaga (“Long-Armed Man”), Ashinaga appears in stories and popular art as an extraordinary being endowed with disproportionately elongated limbs. According to tradition, the two figures combine their unique abilities while fishing: Tenaga catches fish with his remarkably long arms, while Ashinaga stands in deep water thanks to his exceptional legs.

The present sculpture elegantly captures this distinctive appearance. The body, with its deliberately exaggerated proportions, is supported by two extremely slender and elongated legs, which carry a dynamically inclined torso. The raised right arm further enhances the impression of verticality and lightness. Traces of the original polychromy and lacquer remain visible on the loincloth and base, providing evidence of the work’s original appearance.

Both fantastical and humorous in character, this figure belongs to the long Japanese tradition of depicting marvelous creatures and legendary beings drawn from folklore and popular imagination.