This vintage hand-crafted whimsical dorei (土鈴, clay bell) captures the famous Ōtsu-e motif Hyōtan Namazu, depicting a monkey attempting to catch a slippery catfish using nothing but a hollow gourd—a clearly impossible task. Hyōtan Namazu (瓢箪なまず) – Monkey Fishing for a Catfish with a Gourd: The image dates back to the Edo period and is often interpreted as a playful metaphor for futility and persistence: some goals may be as difficult as “catching a catfish with a gourd,” yet the attempt itself is part of the humor and charm.
The theme of catching a catfish with a gourd first appears in Zen art during the 15th century. The most famous early work is the Hyōnen-zu (瓢鮎図), painted by the Zen monk Josetsu around 1415, now in Taizō-in Temple, Kyoto. It shows a man trying to catch a slippery catfish with a gourd.
A Zen master was once asked, “How do you catch a catfish with a gourd?” a riddle-like kōan meant to provoke meditation on impossibility, paradox, and the limits of logic. Painted in lively colors and crafted with the simple, bold style typical of Ōtsu-e folk art, this bell embodies satire, wit, and everyday wisdom. When shaken, its gentle chime reminds us to approach life’s absurdities with patience and perhaps a smile.
