Tobacco set with design of the Three Vinegar Tasters and netsuke

革製煙草入れ

This tobacco set comprises a leather tobacco pouch with a gold ornament, a leather pipe case, and a large pink coral toggle. The gold ornament on the pouch depicts the famous scene of the Buddha, Confucius, and the Taoist sage Laozi tasting vinegar from a large vessel. All three men react in the same way to the vinegar's sour taste, implying that the teachings of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism are equivalent.