Incorporating Mythical Beasts into Daily Life @ Old Imari Mythical Beasts Exhibition
“Old Imari Mythical Beasts Exhibition” (Toguri Museum of Art, 2022/1/7–3/21)
Mythical beasts are animals from legends and folklore. They refer to those described as “imaginary beings” in the “Book of Imaginary Beings” (Jorge Luis Borges, 1967).
In this exhibition, in addition to “imaginary beings,” real animals possessing special powers depicted on Old Imari ceramics were introduced.
For some reason, I am drawn to mythical beasts. Just the other day, I bought a book about “sacred beasts.”
This time, I would like to introduce three things that surprised me about mythical beasts that I learned through Old Imari works.
What is Old Imari?
To begin with, Imari ware is:
・Japan’s first domestic porcelain (originated in the 1610s)
・colorful painting on a white porcelain surface
・named “Imari ware” because it was shipped from the port of Imari (Saga Prefecture)
Old Imari refers to:
・older works among Imari ware (Edo period)
Mythical beasts introduced
The exhibition was organized by mythical beast.
・Dragon
・Phoenix
・Qilin
・Lion
・Crane
・Turtle
・Carp
・Peacock
・Rabbit
・Tiger
Surprise (1) There are four types of dragons
Jiaolong: a dragon with scales Yinglong: a dragon with
wings Qiulong: a dragon with
horns Chilong: a dragon without horns
It seems that the Chilong, also known as the rain dragon in Japan, is frequently seen in Imari ware.
I had a vague image of what a dragon looked like, but when I became conscious of the types, I could certainly see the differences in their appearance...!
There were many works where the dragon was drawn in a circle on the bottom of the plate.
Surprise (2) Lions love peonies
In paintings and crafts, the combination of a lion and a peony is often seen.
There are various theories for the reason, including:
・The influence of the scene in the Noh play "Shakkyo" where a lion dances amidst blooming peonies・Peonies are the lion's
favorite food・The weakness of the insects that
cause the lion to die is the night dew on peonies
The combination of the lion and the peony was lovely.
Surprise (3) Turtles appear carrying precious things on their backs
My number one discovery this time was this.
In the Chinese classic "Liezi," the turtle is considered a divine beast that carries on its back the mountain where immortals live, called Mount Penglai, and it is said that they appear carrying precious things on their backs.
In Japan as well, turtles with algae on their shells, called Minogame, are said to be symbols of longevity.
When I take walks in parks with ponds or along rivers, I sometimes see turtles, and I thought that from now on I will pay attention to see if they are carrying anything on their backs.
Summary
Pottery was not something I was very interested in, but when I looked at it through mythical beasts, which is something I am interested in, my interest was suddenly piqued, and I found myself captivated by the exhibition.
For example, there were things I don't usually see like tobacco trays, and even for familiar plates and bowls, there were various shapes (flower shapes, snowflake shapes, decagonal, rabbit shapes...! etc.), and it was fun to think, "What was this plate used for?" or "What would I serve on it?"
The fact that vessels used in daily life often featured motifs to ward off evil and invite good fortune must be because they were imbued with people's wishes for a healthy and prosperous life.
How prayers and wishes are incorporated into daily life is wonderful, I thought. And I felt that the way of thinking is somewhat similar to Finland, where they incorporate the blessings of the earth into their lives by connecting natural phenomena to design!
Bonus
Toguri Museum of Art is very quiet, and you can appreciate the works in a calm atmosphere!
It seems that the material collection summarizing the exhibited works can be purchased on Amazon!
That is all.