Household Gods: Gods and Buddhas in Folk Beliefs, Tsuruoka Collection

A collection of folk Buddha figures from the collection of Yukihiko Tsuruoka, with photographs by Kiyoshi Nishioka. This art book was published as part of Daifukushorin's Folk Art Series.

This book features figures of gods and Buddhas revered in folk beliefs, such as kamado-gami (kitchen god), Daikoku, Ebisu, Kojin-san, neushi (reclining ox), shinme (sacred horse), fox, sanshin (silkworm god), and maneki-neko (beckoning cat). These are not the opulent, brilliantly colored Buddha statues that would be designated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties, but rather objects of prayer for ordinary people, carved by individuals who were not professional Buddhist sculptors.

Rather than awe, a sense of endearment is often the first impression. They possess unique, somewhat whimsical expressions and simple, expansive forms. The book includes 145 wooden carvings of gods and Buddhas, primarily created from the Edo period to the early Showa period.

The distinction between gods and Buddhas is blurred, and the distance between faith and daily life, prayer and everyday objects, is close. Each statue holds the time spent by its nameless creator and by the people who have long revered it. With new photographs by Kiyoshi Nishioka, this is a quiet and warm book for contemplating folk beliefs, wood carving, and prayer in everyday life.

[Title] Gods of the Home: Gods and Buddhas in Folk Beliefs – The Tsuruoka Collection
[Publisher] Daifukushorin
[Publication Date] February 20, 2025 (2nd edition, 1st printing)
[Page Count] 160 pages
[Dimensions] Approx. 157 x 216 x 16mm / 438g
[Format] Hardcover
[Language] Japanese
[Series] Folk Art Series
[Title Reading] IE NO KAMISAMA MINKAN SHINKŌ NI MIRU KAMI TO HOTOKE TSURUOKA COLLECTION
[Author/Editor, etc.] Yukihiko Tsuruoka/Text, Kiyoshi Nishioka/Photographs, Yosuke Ajikahara/Design
[Printing] Tokyo Inshokan/Printing
[ISBN] 9784908465239
[Condition] New
[Accessories] Obi (belly band)
[Featured in] -
[Related Exhibitions] -

Yukihiko Tsuruoka (1946-)

Born in Mobara City, Chiba Prefecture. Collector, author.

After studying at a university in Tokyo, he worked as a world history teacher at a high school in Chiba Prefecture. After retiring in 2002, he entered a hobby-filled life and has continued collecting folk Buddhist figures and old artifacts.

He collects and introduces gods and Buddhas revered in common people's lives, wooden carvings, and objects related to folk beliefs, which are not institutionally evaluated as National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties. His collection is presented in the book "Gods of the Home: Gods and Buddhas in Folk Beliefs – The Tsuruoka Collection" and also on Instagram ("Nichijo Bijutsukan" - Everyday Art Museum).

His main works include "Gods of the Home: Gods and Buddhas in Folk Beliefs – The Tsuruoka Collection."

< Related Figures >

Yukihiko Tsuruoka, Kiyoshi Nishioka, Yosuke Ajikahara, COCHAE, Daifukushorin, Tokyo Inshokan, Folk Art Series