Shennong, the God of Agriculture, known as First Deity of the Five Grains, the mythical sage king of prehistoric China. He is venerated as the original master who taught the ancient Chinese the practice of agriculture and herbal medicine. As shown here in this rare Japanese carving, the horned Shennong is realized with exemplary lucidity. The deity is seated in royal ease position, wearing a shoulder-length cape made of leaves, with one hand holding a green herb to his mouth for tasting, two large bulging eyes signifying his corpulent presence and expense of powers. The carving is congenially set striking contrast into lightly stained fruitwood, with billowing grains flowing beneath the figure effectively unified the composition.