Dafen Shen Introduction
Daifukujin, in Japanese "大福神" (Daifukujin), was initially conceived to convey the aesthetic of white marble, rich ideals, abundant spirit, and the wealth of human emotions characterized by generosity, inclusiveness, tolerance, and contemplation. Creator Introduction: Author: Tetsuo Harada Personal Background: After World War II, Harada was born in a small village named Niitsu, which is now part of Niigata City, surrounded by rice fields. The Harada family were farmers, and his father became a blacksmith who built structures using metal. His eldest brother, Shigeo, served as the chairman, now managed by his son Hisao, an architect. Niichiro and Kikuno Harada have three boys and three girls, with Tetsuo being the sixth. His father, as the chairman of "Harada Tekojio," understood the importance of education; therefore, Tetsuo was allowed to purchase books for his education and choose his own path. Tetsuo, proficient in arts, whose name means philosopher, studied jazz and music, personally learned guitar, and sang Beatles songs among friends. Creative Process: The creator based the work on the seven deities considered to bring good fortune and prosperity in Japanese belief: Ebisu, Daikokuten, Bishamonten, Jurōjin, Fukurokuju, Benzaiten, and Hotei. The concept of the Japanese "Shichifukujin" bag inspired the creation of "Daifukujin" in white marble. The piece, with a rounded shape reminiscent of Japanese deities, attempts to express feelings of abundance, a rich spirit, and embodies concepts of inclusiveness, tolerance, and generosity, while conveying happiness, peace, hope, and friendship.
