Hexagonal Fukagawa Dish with Lobster and Crab Motifs

In Feng Shui, a set of Chinese beliefs governing harmonious spatial arrangements, the hexagon is considered a perfect shape. This is due to an understanding of the hexagon as existing between, or as a combination of, yin (round) and yang (square), the two poles of a dualistic cosmology. The number six also relates to the shape of turtle shells, representing longevity and occasionally the shape of the universe.

This large platter may have been simply decorative, or might have been used to serve large seafood items. Today, Japan accounts for about eight percent of all the fish caught in the world, and its people consume large amounts of seafood. The motifs on this platter reinforce the close relationship between people and sea creatures in Japan. The appreciation of the animals that sacrifice themselves to sustain human lives is revealed in various age-old Japanese expressions used before and after dining, such as Itadakiasu (I will gratefully accept your lives) and Gochisosamadeshita (It was a wonderful meal; I appreciated your lives).