REKIHAKU 20th Anniversary Exhibition Ancient Japanese writing symbols From the Golden Stamp to Documents through the Shoso-in
To spell out the entire process of how Japan, which had no written language, received written characters from China and exactly how it had been easy for Japan to develop its own system of writing while under the strong influence of ancient Korea. At the start of the 8th century, that foreign influence planted the seed for Japanese works such as for example Kojiki, Nihon Shoki, Man’yoshu while the “world of documents from the Shoso-in”. Documents through the Shoso-in are indispensable, preliminary research materials for the study of ancient Japanese history. However, they’ve been only displayed into the public on special occasions. You can find few examples in the world of a collection that is huge of writings preserved in good shape. For this reason we have been dealing with the task of reproducing in finest detail about 800 associated with the Shoso-in documents as you for the main project in the primary collection. About 250 scrolls have been produced. When you look at the exhibition that is main will display a small grouping of enlarged reproductions.
It really is thought that in ancient Japan, written characters played a big social role as an instrument of government and also as things that held mystical power to an extent that was not present in later eras. Using specific examples through the standpoint of “writing, people, and locations”, you want to illustrate the world that is unique of characters – the ecology of written characters – of ancient Japan, which differs from China, in which the characters originated.
This exhibition would like to expand on a premise from the perspective that ancient society that is japanese contained a thorough “characterless world” along with formed its own unique culture of written characters.
Thanks to the discovery of enormous amounts of archeological materials with written characters in modern times, the specific situation of this ancient written culture common to both Japan and Korea has, in particular, become extremely clear. The season for this exhibition is 2002 (Heisei 14), a year which should be commemorated for the achievement of great progress within the close relationship between Japan and South Korea. Fortunately, thanks to full cooperation from various Korean organizations, we have been able to borrow a few of Korea’s major ancient written materials. This is actually the first public open exhibition of ancient written materials found in Korea to be displayed in Japan. We aspire to compare them to materials that are japanese.
Writing (kanji characters) originating from China and spread throughout East Asia, where it long reigned as an international writing system. However, in Vietnam and Korea today, writing is primarily in indigenous scripts. Except for China itself, the only other culture using Chinese characters continuing towards the present day is Japan, which in the beginning began writing in a variety of Chinese and native characters
However, it cannot be said that the ongoing future of the culture of Chinese characters in Japan is secure. In considering the written culture of the 21st century, it is necessary to totally reconsider what writing was at ancient society.
Therefore, this exhibition is targeted on reproductions of approximately 100 scrolls for the Shoso-in documents, artifacts from archeological digs such as for example letters on lacquer lid paper, wooden tablets, and earthenware with ink writings from around the nation, and in addition epigraphs and materials linked to writing as such as implements. And we will combine ancient written materials from China and Korea to recreate the world of writing in ancient Japan. By looking at writing within these ways, we desire to paint an accurate image of ancient society.
Exhibited Items
1. Through the period when customwriting writing stumbled on the Japanese Archipelago
- Written materials from China (reproduction associated with the seal that is golden ofKan no wa no na no koku ou”, reproduction of inscribed mirror from Keisho 3 from excavations at the Kanbara Jinja burial mound in Shimane Prefecture)
- Expressions in sound and pictures (bronze bell reproduction along with other items)
- Characters written through the second to fourth centuries in the nation of Wa (archeological finds from Oshiro Ruins in Mie Prefecture such as for example “Hou” (meaning “offering”), “Kou” (meaning “good fortune”) and other items)
2. Written culture in ancient Korea
(reproductions of an inscribed curved sword that is long tachi) with single dragon pattern,Josan-Sanjo wooden tablet, Gan’ouchi Pond wooden tablet, Geinichi-Reisuiri monument, and other items)
