| Object Number | 15888A |
| Current Location | Collections Storage |
| Culture | Japanese |
| Provenience | Japan |
| Section | Asian |
| Materials | Ivory |
| Technique | Carved |
| Iconography | Shoki | Demons | Okame |
| Description | Shoki (Chinese: Zhong Kui) surprising three demons, one of whom is pointing to a picture of a woman on a screen. The woman has a pillow and a fan and may be Okame or Otafuku. They are carved out of ivory and have a teakwood stand (15888B) which is currently missing. Zhong Kui, the demon-quellor, a favorite figure in Chinese mythology, was supposed to be a ghostly protector of the Emperor Ming Huang (712 - 756 CE). He is usually represented as a burly, truculent giant, clad in official garb and armed with a two-edged sword. He is commonly shown as punishing or compelling to menial service service a band of demons who adopt the most comical appearances to escape from the keen eye of thier persecutor. 15888A is the screen with two demons, 15888B is the missing stand, 15888C is Shoki, and 15888D is single demon sitting in front of the screen. |
| Height | 5.5 cm |
| Credit Line | Deposited by Thomas Hockley, 1892 |
| Other Number | LE534 - Other Number |
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