This is a box in the shape of waterfowl at Tokyo National Museum, carved from white jade in the 19th century in the Qing dynasty period.
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| Box in shape of waterfowl, 19th century, Qing dynasty 白玉水禽形合子 清時代 |
Waterfowl Shaped Box 白玉水禽形合子
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
Rabbit Shaped White Jade Container 白玉兎合子
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
This is a container in the shape of a rabbit at Tokyo National Museum, carved from white jade in the 18th to 19th century in the Qing dynasty period.
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| Container in shape of rabbit, 18th to 19th century, Qing dynasty 白玉兎合子 清 |
Agate Goldfish & Jadeite Carp 瑪瑙金魚と碧玉鯉
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
Do you know what these red (orange) things are?
They are 15 goldfish strung together, carved from agate in the 19th century during the Qing dynasty, on show at the Toyokan Asian gallery of Tokyo National Museum!! Every fish is opening their mouths, which is so kawaii, making me smile.
Goldfish are symbol of wealth in China, but to me, their funny expressions and the color orange are more intriguing!
The gallery has another but the same type of sculpture below, a carp-shaped vase carved from a "single" piece of dark green and white jade, also in the 19th century under the Qing dynasty. Carp are a symbol of promotion and success in China.
Both are called "shoshoku" sculptures in Japan, i.e., sculptures carved out of stones while maximizing their original colors, i.e., in this case, red, and dark green and white, the original color of agate and jade. The National Palace Museum in Taipei also has this type of sculpture, Jadeite Cabbage.
Not only beauty in Chinese art but also the masterful skills of artisans always amazes me, giving me the strength to keep going.
If you are interested in agate pomegranate, read this, too!
(If you wish to post your comment but don't have a Google account, select "anonymous" from the drop down menu titled "comment as"!)
「瑪瑙金魚」と「碧白玉双鯉花器」です。「俏色工芸」という石の特性を生かした工芸です。
「瑪瑙金魚」は１５匹の金魚がつながっています。口パクパクしている様子がとってもかわいいです。「碧白玉双鯉花器」は碧色と白色の「一つ」の玉からできている鯉の花器です。
(Google アカウントを持ってない方は、コメント記入後に「Google アカウント」をクリックし、「匿名」か「名前/URL」を選択してからご記入ください！)
Do you know what these red (orange) things are?
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| They are opening their mouths! 口パクパク！ |
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| Agate goldfish 瑪瑙金魚 |
They are 15 goldfish strung together, carved from agate in the 19th century during the Qing dynasty, on show at the Toyokan Asian gallery of Tokyo National Museum!! Every fish is opening their mouths, which is so kawaii, making me smile.
Goldfish are symbol of wealth in China, but to me, their funny expressions and the color orange are more intriguing!
The gallery has another but the same type of sculpture below, a carp-shaped vase carved from a "single" piece of dark green and white jade, also in the 19th century under the Qing dynasty. Carp are a symbol of promotion and success in China.
 |
| Flower vase in shape of carp 碧白玉双鯉花器 |
Both are called "shoshoku" sculptures in Japan, i.e., sculptures carved out of stones while maximizing their original colors, i.e., in this case, red, and dark green and white, the original color of agate and jade. The National Palace Museum in Taipei also has this type of sculpture, Jadeite Cabbage.
If you are interested in agate pomegranate, read this, too!
(If you wish to post your comment but don't have a Google account, select "anonymous" from the drop down menu titled "comment as"!)
「瑪瑙金魚」と「碧白玉双鯉花器」です。「俏色工芸」という石の特性を生かした工芸です。
「瑪瑙金魚」は１５匹の金魚がつながっています。口パクパクしている様子がとってもかわいいです。「碧白玉双鯉花器」は碧色と白色の「一つ」の玉からできている鯉の花器です。
(Google アカウントを持ってない方は、コメント記入後に「Google アカウント」をクリックし、「匿名」か「名前/URL」を選択してからご記入ください！)
Jingdezhen Ewers Decorated in Overglaze Enamel and Gold 五彩金襴手水注と三彩金襴手水注
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
These are both Jingdezhen wares with overglaze enamel decoration in the 16th century in the Ming dynasy. The first one is a wucai or five-color painted porcelain and the second in three colors.
Their Japanese names (水注) suggest that they are water jugs but both are so gorgeous that I would not have been able to drink water poured from these jugs!
By the way, recently, I have been writing many posts about pottery, porcelain, glasses, sculptures and other objects as well as flowers and plants I find beautiful in museums and on the roadside, but for what?
Then I realized that I write them for myself because I need to be close to something that helps me become a better me. I cannot explain how just looking at them works that way, but something in them and their fresh colors, natural or artificial, remind me of what I really am and makes me feel stronger and more loving....
(If you wish to post your comment but don't have a Google account, select "anonymous" from the drop down menu titled "comment as"!)
上が「五彩金襴手水注」で下が「三彩金襴手龍濤水注」。ゴージャスすぎて注がれた水を飲んでも飲んだ気がしない水注です｡でもため息が出るほど美しい｡｡｡
最近、美術館や道端の「美しいもの」についてよく書いているのですが、ハタと考えました。何のために書いてるんだろう？そして気づきました。美しいものについて書いていると優しくなれる、美しくなれる（「心」がです。「顔」ではありません（笑）。）んです。
これが時代を生き抜いてきた芸術のパワー、そしてひっそり、でもしっかりと道端に根付いている草花のパワーなのでしょうか。当分、美しいもの探しが続きそうです｡｡｡
(Google アカウントを持ってない方は、コメント記入後に「Google アカウント」をクリックし、「匿名」か「名前/URL」を選択してからご記入ください！)
These are both Jingdezhen wares with overglaze enamel decoration in the 16th century in the Ming dynasy. The first one is a wucai or five-color painted porcelain and the second in three colors.
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| Jingdezhen ware wucai ewer in overglaze enamel and gold 五彩金襴手水注 |
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| Jingdezhen ware, three-color painted ewer in overglaze enamel and gold with dragon and wave design 三彩金襴手龍濤水注 |
Their Japanese names (水注) suggest that they are water jugs but both are so gorgeous that I would not have been able to drink water poured from these jugs!
By the way, recently, I have been writing many posts about pottery, porcelain, glasses, sculptures and other objects as well as flowers and plants I find beautiful in museums and on the roadside, but for what?
Then I realized that I write them for myself because I need to be close to something that helps me become a better me. I cannot explain how just looking at them works that way, but something in them and their fresh colors, natural or artificial, remind me of what I really am and makes me feel stronger and more loving....
(If you wish to post your comment but don't have a Google account, select "anonymous" from the drop down menu titled "comment as"!)
上が「五彩金襴手水注」で下が「三彩金襴手龍濤水注」。ゴージャスすぎて注がれた水を飲んでも飲んだ気がしない水注です｡でもため息が出るほど美しい｡｡｡
最近、美術館や道端の「美しいもの」についてよく書いているのですが、ハタと考えました。何のために書いてるんだろう？そして気づきました。美しいものについて書いていると優しくなれる、美しくなれる（「心」がです。「顔」ではありません（笑）。）んです。
これが時代を生き抜いてきた芸術のパワー、そしてひっそり、でもしっかりと道端に根付いている草花のパワーなのでしょうか。当分、美しいもの探しが続きそうです｡｡｡
(Google アカウントを持ってない方は、コメント記入後に「Google アカウント」をクリックし、「匿名」か「名前/URL」を選択してからご記入ください！)
White Jade Sculptures with Hidden Messages 白玉文鎮に隠されたメッセージ
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
These Chinese sculptures carved from white jade are all beautiful, but what interested me was not their beauty but hidden messages.
These Chinese sculptures carved from white jade are all beautiful, but what interested me was not their beauty but hidden messages.
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| Incense burner in shape of cooking vessel, 18th to 19th century, Qing dynasty 白玉牡丹獅子飾鼎形香炉 |
Big Smile of Lion on Top of Ivory Wine Vessel 象牙彫卣の獅子スマイル！
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
If you are told to "say cheese," you should smile like this!!!
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| Say cheese! |
Indigo Blue Tomb Figure Rabbit 藍釉兎
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
I first thought this 10cm tall Tang sancai tomb figure was a mouse, but it's a rabbit. Either way, so chubby and kawaii, isn't it?
What attracted my attention, however, is not its plumpy figure, but this indigo blue, an impossible color for a rabbit. According to Sachio Yoshioka, a late Japanese master dyer and textile historian, Japan has two types of indigo blue depending on how an indigo vat is made. Indigo blue produced using fermented indigo leaves (sukumo) and hardwood (such as sawtooth oak) ash lye is paler and its use was only allowed for the Tokugawa and its three branch families, while that using fermented indigo leaves and lime or softwood ash lye is darker and more long-lasting, so for commoners. The indigo blue of this rabbit, although made in China, is obviously the former type noble indigo blue under Yoshioka's color classification.
Source: Nihon (or Nippon) no iro jiten (Dictionary of colors in Japan), Sachio Yoshioka
As a tomb figure, the rabbit was made to be buried. How could they bury such a beautiful and cute rabbit in a tomb? But thanks to that, we can now enjoy this more than 1,000 year old small plump stoneware in such noble blue at Tokyo National Museum.
(If you wish to post your comment but don't have a Google account, select "anonymous" from the drop down menu titled "comment as"!)
東京国立博物館に鎮座していた10センチほどの藍釉兎。唐三彩の鎮墓獣で埋葬品の一種です。
名前の通り藍色です。染色家の故吉岡幸男氏によると、日本には「清楚な藍色」と「濃藍色」の2種類があり、前者は徳川（御三）家のみに許された藍、後者はしっかり染まった庶民の藍だとのこと。違いは「藍の建て方」で、「清楚な藍」には堅木の木灰から作ったアルカリ性の水溶液と蒅*が使われ、「濃藍」には石灰や他の木灰が併用されるそうです。藍釉兎は唐のものですが、その藍色は「清楚な藍」に当たるのではないでしょうか。
I first thought this 10cm tall Tang sancai tomb figure was a mouse, but it's a rabbit. Either way, so chubby and kawaii, isn't it?
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| Rabbit, 8th century Tang dynasty 藍釉兎 |
What attracted my attention, however, is not its plumpy figure, but this indigo blue, an impossible color for a rabbit. According to Sachio Yoshioka, a late Japanese master dyer and textile historian, Japan has two types of indigo blue depending on how an indigo vat is made. Indigo blue produced using fermented indigo leaves (sukumo) and hardwood (such as sawtooth oak) ash lye is paler and its use was only allowed for the Tokugawa and its three branch families, while that using fermented indigo leaves and lime or softwood ash lye is darker and more long-lasting, so for commoners. The indigo blue of this rabbit, although made in China, is obviously the former type noble indigo blue under Yoshioka's color classification.
Source: Nihon (or Nippon) no iro jiten (Dictionary of colors in Japan), Sachio Yoshioka
As a tomb figure, the rabbit was made to be buried. How could they bury such a beautiful and cute rabbit in a tomb? But thanks to that, we can now enjoy this more than 1,000 year old small plump stoneware in such noble blue at Tokyo National Museum.
 |
| Stoneware with blue lead glaze |
(If you wish to post your comment but don't have a Google account, select "anonymous" from the drop down menu titled "comment as"!)
東京国立博物館に鎮座していた10センチほどの藍釉兎。唐三彩の鎮墓獣で埋葬品の一種です。
名前の通り藍色です。染色家の故吉岡幸男氏によると、日本には「清楚な藍色」と「濃藍色」の2種類があり、前者は徳川（御三）家のみに許された藍、後者はしっかり染まった庶民の藍だとのこと。違いは「藍の建て方」で、「清楚な藍」には堅木の木灰から作ったアルカリ性の水溶液と蒅*が使われ、「濃藍」には石灰や他の木灰が併用されるそうです。藍釉兎は唐のものですが、その藍色は「清楚な藍」に当たるのではないでしょうか。
* 藍の葉を発酵させてつくった染料
ちなみに「藍を建てる」とは「水に溶けない藍を発酵という過程で可溶化させ、染色出来る状態にすること」をいい、英語では「make an indigo vat」、「prepare an indigo vat」などと言うようです。機械翻訳にかけたら「build indigo」とかになるんだろうな、と思ってクスッとしてしまいました（笑）。勉強になりました。
でも考えてみたらこのうさぎちゃん、埋めるために作られたんですね。ちょっとびっくりです。でもそのおかげで今1,000年以上前の藍色を愛でることができる。不思議な気持ちになりました｡｡｡
(Google アカウントを持ってない方がコメントする場合は、「Google アカウント」をクリックし、「匿名」か「名前/URL」を選択してからご記入ください！)
ちなみに「藍を建てる」とは「水に溶けない藍を発酵という過程で可溶化させ、染色出来る状態にすること」をいい、英語では「make an indigo vat」、「prepare an indigo vat」などと言うようです。機械翻訳にかけたら「build indigo」とかになるんだろうな、と思ってクスッとしてしまいました（笑）。勉強になりました。
でも考えてみたらこのうさぎちゃん、埋めるために作られたんですね。ちょっとびっくりです。でもそのおかげで今1,000年以上前の藍色を愛でることができる。不思議な気持ちになりました｡｡｡
(Google アカウントを持ってない方がコメントする場合は、「Google アカウント」をクリックし、「匿名」か「名前/URL」を選択してからご記入ください！)
Famille Rose Vase with Openwork and Arabesque Design 粉彩透彫唐草文双耳瓶
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
This is a famille rose enamel porcelain. It is about 50cm high and double-walled with an openwork frame on the outside and an underglaze blue vase on the inside. So beautiful....
Porcelain and glass products made in the Qing dynasty are all amazingly colorful, but the color of this Jingdezhen ware is less bright or more calming than the colors of Qianlong glasses, showing the great quality and diversity of Chinese porcelain and glass art.
You can see this intricate colorful vase at Tokyo National Museum.
(If you wish to post your comment but don't have a Google account, select "anonymous" from the drop down menu titled "comment as"!)
東京国立博物館で見つけた「粉彩透彫唐草文双耳瓶」。細かい彩色に目を奪われました。無線七宝の技術を使って絵付けしたとのこと。七宝は「enamel」と言うんですね。そして「Famille rose enameled vase with two lugs」の lugs は「something (such as a handle) that projects like an ear...」、つまり「取っ手」だそうです。openwork は「透かし彫り」。単語の勉強になりました。美術用語って難しいです（笑）。
今日の単語：
openwork 透かし彫り
enamel 七宝
lug 取っ手
(Google アカウントを持ってない方がコメントする場合は、「Google アカウント」をクリックし、「匿名」か「名前/URL」を選択してからご記入ください！)
This is a famille rose enamel porcelain. It is about 50cm high and double-walled with an openwork frame on the outside and an underglaze blue vase on the inside. So beautiful....
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| Famille rose enameled vase with two lugs with arabesque design, Qing dynasty, Qianlong era (1763-1795) 粉彩透彫唐草双耳瓶 |
Porcelain and glass products made in the Qing dynasty are all amazingly colorful, but the color of this Jingdezhen ware is less bright or more calming than the colors of Qianlong glasses, showing the great quality and diversity of Chinese porcelain and glass art.
You can see this intricate colorful vase at Tokyo National Museum.
(If you wish to post your comment but don't have a Google account, select "anonymous" from the drop down menu titled "comment as"!)
東京国立博物館で見つけた「粉彩透彫唐草文双耳瓶」。細かい彩色に目を奪われました。無線七宝の技術を使って絵付けしたとのこと。七宝は「enamel」と言うんですね。そして「Famille rose enameled vase with two lugs」の lugs は「something (such as a handle) that projects like an ear...」、つまり「取っ手」だそうです。openwork は「透かし彫り」。単語の勉強になりました。美術用語って難しいです（笑）。
今日の単語：
openwork 透かし彫り
enamel 七宝
lug 取っ手
(Google アカウントを持ってない方がコメントする場合は、「Google アカウント」をクリックし、「匿名」か「名前/URL」を選択してからご記入ください！)
Real vs. Painting Peonies - Famille Rose Vase 粉彩牡丹文大瓶
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
This is a 50cm high famille rose vase with peony design made in the Yongezhen period (1723-1735) during the Qing dynasty. The Chinese enamel technique used for the vase allowed for fine gradations and better three-dimensional depictions.
I had taken dozens of photos of "real" peonies in the peony garden within the Ueno Park several weeks before, so I looked for those of pink, orange and yellow peonies to compare them with these enamel-painted ones on the vase.
Wow! These peony paintings pretty look like real ones, don't they? You can enjoy this beautiful vase at Tokyo National Museum and peonies in the peony garden nearby.
(If you wish to post your comment but don't have a Google account, select "anonymous" from the drop down menu titled "comment as"!)
東京国立博物館の東洋館で見つけました。「粉彩牡丹文大瓶」です。清朝雍正年間に粉彩技法を用いて作られたとのこと。粉彩技法は色ガラスの粉を顔料に用い、立体的、写実的な表現を可能にしました。
数週間前に上野ぼたん苑に行って牡丹の写真をたくさん撮ったので、瓶に描かれた牡丹に似た「本物の牡丹」がないか探してみたらありました！ どうでしょう。結構似てませんか（笑）？
(Google アカウントを持ってない方がコメントする場合は、「Google アカウント」をクリックし、「匿名」か「名前/URL」を選択してからご記入ください！)
This is a 50cm high famille rose vase with peony design made in the Yongezhen period (1723-1735) during the Qing dynasty. The Chinese enamel technique used for the vase allowed for fine gradations and better three-dimensional depictions.
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| Large vase with peony design in famille rose enamel Yongezhen period, Qing dynasty 粉彩牡丹文大瓶 |
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| Three peonies selected |
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| Pink peony in the Ueno peony garden |
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| Orange (?) peony in the Ueno peony garden |
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| Yellow peony in the Ueno peony garden |
Wow! These peony paintings pretty look like real ones, don't they? You can enjoy this beautiful vase at Tokyo National Museum and peonies in the peony garden nearby.
(If you wish to post your comment but don't have a Google account, select "anonymous" from the drop down menu titled "comment as"!)
東京国立博物館の東洋館で見つけました。「粉彩牡丹文大瓶」です。清朝雍正年間に粉彩技法を用いて作られたとのこと。粉彩技法は色ガラスの粉を顔料に用い、立体的、写実的な表現を可能にしました。
数週間前に上野ぼたん苑に行って牡丹の写真をたくさん撮ったので、瓶に描かれた牡丹に似た「本物の牡丹」がないか探してみたらありました！ どうでしょう。結構似てませんか（笑）？
(Google アカウントを持ってない方がコメントする場合は、「Google アカウント」をクリックし、「匿名」か「名前/URL」を選択してからご記入ください！)
Qing Dynasty Glasses 清朝の乾隆ガラス
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
These are glass products all made in China during the Qing dynasty period currently on show at Tokyo National Museum.
These are glass products all made in China during the Qing dynasty period currently on show at Tokyo National Museum.
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| Jar Opaque red glass on yellow glass |
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| Candlesticks Colored glass |
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| Lobed bowl Opaque blue glass |
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| Vase with long neck Transparent blue glass |
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| Vase with long neck Blue green glass |
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| Vase with long neck Milky white glass |
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| Vase Opaque yellow glass |
I first thought that they were made in the Middle East as they are so colorful, so I was surprised that China had produced glasses of such bright colors in the 18th and 19th centuries. They are called Qianlong glasses, named after the Qianlong Emperor, the 6th emperor of the Qing dynasty.
Japan's traditional colors are more subtle or sober (like kimono) and I preferred them to lively ones. Sachio Yoshioka, a Japanese master dyer and textile historian, reproduced a variety of colors that reflect the natural surroundings and seasonal changes in Japan without using synthetic dyes and wrote several books about these colors. I often read one such book when I want to see inside of me in solitude.
But I have realized recently that bright colors, like those of Qianlong glasses, also make me happy in a different way, helping me look outward and setting me free. Now I appreciate both sober and bright colors.
If you are interested in sculptures produced under the Qing dynasty, read this.
(If you wish to post your comment but don't have a Google account, select "anonymous" from the drop down menu titled "comment as.")
東京国立博物館に展示されていた清朝のガラスです。上から
黄地赤色ガラス壺
色ガラス燭台
青色ガラス木瓜型鉢
青色透明ガラス長頸瓶
青緑色ガラス長頸瓶
乳白色ガラス長頸瓶
黄色ガラス瓶
です。
こういう鮮やかな色って昔は苦手でした。日本の古代色の方が好きでした。自分と向き合えるからです。染色家の吉岡幸雄氏の書いた本を読んでいると心が洗われます。
でも最近、鮮やかな色やその力にも惹かれるようになりました。地味だけど奥深い日本の古代色は内面と向き合いたい時、清朝のガラスのような明るい色は意識を外に広げたい時、私を助けてくれます！
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Qing Dynasty Sculptures 清朝の俏色工芸
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
These four Chinese sculptures below were all carved in the Qing dynasty period, from stones while maximizing their original colors. They are called "俏色 (shoshoku) sculptures" in Japan.
These four Chinese sculptures below were all carved in the Qing dynasty period, from stones while maximizing their original colors. They are called "俏色 (shoshoku) sculptures" in Japan.
The one in the first photo is an incense burner in the 19th century, carved from jade.
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| Incense burner in 19th century, jade, Qing dynasty 翡翠香炉 |
Chinese Antiques Give Us Power 中国美術にパワーもらいました！
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
I was so exhausted mentally that I needed something to recharge me so went to the Toyo Kan (Asian Gallery) of the Tokyo National Museum and found this!
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| What's this? |
Exquisite Chinese Ornaments of Three Kingdoms 中国美術の繊細さ
Japanese follows English. 英語の後に日本語が続きます。
I want to show you two items currently on view in the Three Kingdoms exhibition held in the Tokyo National Museum.
One is a 5cm wide 5cm tall, gold and bronze made crown in the above photo. The color is so beautiful and its cicada design, usual for Chinese bronzeware, is so exquisite.
The other is "Money tree," a two meter high bronze made tree, decorated with more than 400 bronze coins. Despite the name, the tree has some kind of religious (not financial) significance.
Both embody delicate and exquisite beauty with many similarities to ancient Japanese ornaments.
東京国立博物館の三国志展に行ってきました。展示物が多かったので、自分の好みで二つ紹介します。
上の写真は「蟬文冠飾」という天子や重臣の装飾具。下は「揺銭樹」で英語では「Money tree」と言いますが、宗教的な意味合いを持つ装飾具だそうです。
両方とも、とっても繊細でした｡｡。
 |
| Crown decorated with cicada design |
One is a 5cm wide 5cm tall, gold and bronze made crown in the above photo. The color is so beautiful and its cicada design, usual for Chinese bronzeware, is so exquisite.
 |
| Money tree |
The other is "Money tree," a two meter high bronze made tree, decorated with more than 400 bronze coins. Despite the name, the tree has some kind of religious (not financial) significance.
Both embody delicate and exquisite beauty with many similarities to ancient Japanese ornaments.
東京国立博物館の三国志展に行ってきました。展示物が多かったので、自分の好みで二つ紹介します。
上の写真は「蟬文冠飾」という天子や重臣の装飾具。下は「揺銭樹」で英語では「Money tree」と言いますが、宗教的な意味合いを持つ装飾具だそうです。
両方とも、とっても繊細でした｡｡。
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