Japanese bamboowork

Chinese-style charcoal basket (sairō-sumitori) for sencha tea ceremony, made out of timber bamboo, dwarf bamboo, and rattan, 19th century

Bamboowork (竹細工, takezaiku) is a traditional Japanese craft with a range of fine and decorative arts. Bamboowork can feature lacquer and be a part of Japanese lacquerware, depending on the extent.

History

Basket weaver working with kagome pattern (1915)

More than six hundred species of bamboo grow in Japan, including the Phyllostachys bambusoides variety, which can grow to a height of 15–22 m and a diameter of 10–15 cm. Although defined as a subfamily of grasses, bamboo is characterized by its woody culm and a root system that can form either thick, slowly spreading clusters or more aggressive runners.[1]

Bamboo is a common theme in Japanese literature and a favoured subject of painters. Along with the evergreen pine and plum, which is the first flower of spring, bamboo is a part of the traditional Three Friends of Winter. The three are a symbol of steadfastness, perseverance, and resilience. Japanese artists have often represented bamboo enduring inclement weather, such as rain or snow, reflecting its reputation for being flexible but unbreakable, and its association with steadfastness and loyalty.[1]

It has been used for traditional architecture as well as for utilitarian objects such as fans, tea scoops, and flower baskets. Objects were used in the 8th century for Buddhist rituals and one of the oldest surviving baskets is housed in the Shōsō-in in Nara. The 16th century tea master Sen no Rikyu (1522-1591) advocated for a simple, austere tea style (wabi-cha) with natural and "spontaneous" (or seemingly artless) utensils. These tea utensils established a Japanese bamboo art distinct from the imported Chinese style.[1] Recognition of bamboo craftsmanship as a traditional Japanese decorative art began in the end of the 19th century, and became accepted as an art form.[1]

The three main production areas were the western Kansai region around the cities of Osaka and Kyoto, the eastern Kantō region around Edo, and the southernmost island of Kyushu.[1]

The Metropolitan Museum of Art held a special exhibition about Japanese bamboo art in 2017.[2][3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Bincsik, Monika; Moroyama, Masanori (2017). Japanese Bamboo Art: The Abbey Collection. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art. p. 48. ISBN 9781588396143.
  2. ↑ "Japanese Bamboo Art: The Abbey Collection". www.metmuseum.org. Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2017-08-10. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  3. ↑ Smith, Roberta (2017-08-03). "Bamboo Japanese-Style, From Dynastic Masters of the Art". The New York Times. New York. Retrieved 2017-08-11. The Met’s first exhibition to focus on bamboo basketry and sculpture traces the material’s presence throughout Japanese visual culture.

References

Media related to Bambooworks of Japan at Wikimedia Commons

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