JAPANESE ARISTOCRATIC CULTURE.

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A pair of shells for a matching game. Shells such as these were used for the kai-awase matching game, popular among Japanese noblewomen, and were also given as wedding gifts. A pair of dogs (otogi-inu) also represent safe childbirth and healthy upbringing."Kai-awase, the Japanese memory game that dates back to the Heian Period (794-1185), was played by Japanese nobility, especially women. One to four players turn valves of the Asian hard clam (Mereterix lusoria) that have been painted with matching designs on the internal side of both valves of a pair. The objective is to find matching pairs and remember their position after turning the valves back to the unpainted external surfaces" (Moretzsohn, p. 126). These designs were often taken from scenes in Japan's most famous novel, the Tale of Genji, although this example seems to be an exception. Over time the shells came to symbolize love, partnership, and a long-lasting marriage. One of the dogs is resting underneath a pine tree, the symbol for longevity.

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