Dragon and Phoenix Maki-E on Sho-Hakkaku Fountain Pen

✓ 100% Genuine Urushi

✓ Contains the Maki-E Red Seal (Highest Quality of Maki-E Art)

✓ Hand-painted by highly-trained Japanese Artisans

Commonly illustrated together in Japanese artwork, the "ryuhou" (Dragon and Phoenix) is the emperor and the emperoress. In Feng Shui, the dragon is seen as the yang while the phoenix is seen as the yin and symbolize meanings of everlasting love and eternal matrimony.

Dragons are well respected mythical creatures in Japan and are seen as water deities that control rainfall and all water bodies and has power over harvest, thus, symbolizing wealth and prosperity. It is believe that Japanese dragons are more closely tied to water as Japan is on an island that is surrounded by water. Japanese dragons in particular are typically portrayed with serpent-like bodies and no wings (unlike dragons portrayed in other cultures).

The phoenix in Japan reflects a positive meaning (like most cultures). In Japan, it is thought that the phoenix is a symbol of the imperial household and also represents power and strength.

About Danitrio Sho-Hakkaku Fountain Pen Series:

The Sho-Hakkaku is a Danitrio series pen that is octagonal-shaped.  Danitrio wanted to create a shorter version of the Hakkaku. Hakkaku means "discovery" in Japanese. 

Nib Details:

This pen is furnished with an 18k Gold, two-toned #6 nib. What has been described by many Danitrio collectors as the fireball nib is an image of “Kaen-Kohai” which is a flame-shaped halo of “Fudo Myoo” (Acala, the God of Fire). This halo is commonly painted on the back of Japanese Buddhist statues. 

An UrushiPen.com representative will contact you to confirm nib tip size preference (fine, medium, broad, or stub) following the placement of the order.

 Technical Specification: 

 About the Artisan:

This pen was hand-painted by Koichiro Okazaki (Kogaku). Born in 1959. He is a renown Maki-E artisan in Japan and considers himself wholeheartedly traditional when it comes to Maki-E. He is recognized by the Japanese Government as a Dento Kogei-shi, which an honorary title meaning "master of traditional crafts" and is given only to a select few artisans who have a significant contribution to their craft. Many of his Maki-E works have been accepted and rewarded at national art exhibitions. He had learned Maki-E from a master and became an independent artisan 5 years later. He was recognized with Kao (authorized monogram) by Kuda Munenori of Sado Omote school in 1991. He performs Maki-E on many traditional accessories, hair pins, combs, jewelry, and fine writing instruments.