A vintage unglazed Bizen-yaki okimono of Daikoku. Delightfully realized with precision skill, imbued a smiling face with the look of wisdom and serenity brought the god to life. Its iron-like hardness and gradual colors on the silken surface result from high temperature firing in a kiln for weeks, with accumulated charcoal ashes melting in the heat that sticks to the surface and becomes a glaze. Daikoku is the patron of wealth and harvest, the bestower of a cornucopia of abundance overflowing with the staples of life symbolized in his magical mallet. The name Daikoku may read "Great Black" in kanji, which is the Hindu deity Mahakala, a three-faced and six arms wrathful guardian worshipped in the Buddhist faith. Daikoku was introduced to Japan around the 15th century. He gradually became affiliated with Okuni, the Shinto God of Agriculture. In time, Daikoku began to appear with a mallet and rice bales, symbols of bountiful harvests. He is often seen accompanied by a rat. Such associations may be because Daikoku's festival occurs on the Day of the Rat in Japan.