Wooden Object Gallery
GILDED WOODEN PLAQUE
LIN ZHI: The hoof of the female unicorn, associated with a wish for many sons.
Java, Indonesia, 19th C.
Teak wood, gold leaf, kincu (cinnabar), paint
80 x 43 cm
The East Indies Museum
IDN: 2-931-153
This phrase comes from a famous poem in the "Shijing" or Book of Songs, entitled "Lin zhi Zhi", or "The Unicorn's Hoof"
麟之趾震，震公子 "The Unicorn's Hoofs! The Duke's sons throng"
This is apparently connected with a tribal dance, and the archer shooting the hoof of the unicorn (as well as the brow and the horn in the following verses of the poem), as part of an ancient fertility dance.
The connection with fertility is reinforced with this traditional saying: Linzhi chengxiang 麟趾呈祥 "May the unicorn's hoof bring you good luck"
麟之趾震，震公子 "The Unicorn's Hoofs! The Duke's sons throng"
This is apparently connected with a tribal dance, and the archer shooting the hoof of the unicorn (as well as the brow and the horn in the following verses of the poem), as part of an ancient fertility dance.
The connection with fertility is reinforced with this traditional saying: Linzhi chengxiang 麟趾呈祥 "May the unicorn's hoof bring you good luck"
