Please help - What does this mean?
 

This is on the back of a wooden statue that has been in my family for over 50 years. I never knew this had writing on it but now that I do, I'm DYING to know what it means!! Can anyone please help me?

"Southern Crimson"

It makes no sense at least in Japanese. If, in deed, the writing were supposed to be in Japanese, it would have to be a proper noun --- a person's name or something. If it is someone's name, then again it is not a common name at all.

Where does the statue come from?

Thank you!! Southern Crimson? I have no idea where the statue came from. It is very old. So are you saying that the writing isn't actually Japanese?

No, that is not what I am saying. I know for sure it is not a regular word but in case it is a person's name, then one can always create new names. The name possibilities are infinite.

I hate to speak in pure speculation but if it is a name, then it is a pretty heavy-sounding one. I am suspecting a monk's name and whether or not that monk is Japanese, I have absolutely no idea. China uses kanji and so did Korea 50 years ago.

Searching in Japanese, your two characters 南朱 seem to refer to the famous Chinese composer, Jianer Zhu, (1922 - ).

中国の音楽界には、「北王南朱」と言う言葉が有るそう だ。

これは、中国を代表する交響曲を言うらしい。

南朱と言うのは、南の地方では、上海の朱践耳の事。