Gofun

White pigment made from shells

Chrysanthemums (eighteenth century) by Artist: Ito JakuchuSmithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art

About gofun

Many types of pigments were once brought to Japan from China, and the pigment known as gofun in Japan originally denoted white-lead pigment. However, due to the humid environment of Japan, white lead would turn black, thus making it difficult for this pigment to remain white. Over the centuries, oyster shells gradually replaced white lead as the raw material for making white pigment. Today, gofun continues to be used as white pigment in traditional art and craft. 

The history of gofun. (2020) by Nakagawa gofun and GwasendoKyoto Women's University, Lifestyle Design Laboratory

The history of gofun 

It is believed that white pigment made from oyster shells became known as gofun from the end of the Heian period (12th century).

A mount of oyster shells, gofun. (2020) by Nakagawa gofunKyoto Women's University, Lifestyle Design Laboratory

Oyster shells

Ostrea denselamellosa (Densely lamellated oyster) is a species of oyster whose shells are used to create gofun. The shells are first given 10 to 15 years of natural drying against the elements, a process that breaks down organic substances contained in the shells and allows foreign objects such as stone or fish scales attached to the shells to be easily removed. Gofun made from oyster shells is an excellent pigment that is resistant to flaking and soft enough to be easily applied with a brush and guarantees long-lasting whiteness. 

White pigment made from shells,gofun. (2021-04-24) by nakagawa gofun and GwasendoKyoto Women's University, Lifestyle Design Laboratory

Soft white  

In comparison with white pigments made using metal powders, gofun is characteristically softer with a warmer hue. It is blended with glue before being applied as white pigment on paintings, as well as hina dolls, Hakata dolls and Fushimi dolls. 

Painting with gofun. (2021-03-05) by Wataru KawashimaKyoto Women's University, Lifestyle Design Laboratory

Painting with gofun 

First, gofun powder is placed inside a mortar and crushed with a pestle.  

Making the gofun powder into white pigment for Nihonga painting, gofun (2021-03-05) by Wataru KawashimaKyoto Women's University, Lifestyle Design Laboratory

The powder is finely ground.

The ground powder is blended with glue, gofun. (2021-03-05) by Wataru KawashimaKyoto Women's University, Lifestyle Design Laboratory

The ground powder is blended with glue.

Kneading of the mixture of gofun and glue, gofun. (2021-03-05) by Wataru KawashimaKyoto Women's University, Lifestyle Design Laboratory

The mixture is kneaded with a finger on a dish until it becomes a ball.

Pound the kneaded gofun ball on the dish, gofun. (2021-03-05) by Wataru KawashimaKyoto Women's University, Lifestyle Design Laboratory

The kneaded gofun ball is then pounded on the dish.

The gofun dough is pressed into a thin layer on the dish, gofun (2021-03-05) by Wataru KawashimaKyoto Women's University, Lifestyle Design Laboratory

The gofun dough is pressed into a thin layer on the dish.

Using water and dissolving with fingers to make a white pigment, gofun. (2021-03-05) by Wataru KawashimaKyoto Women's University, Lifestyle Design Laboratory

A small amount of water is added and the gofun is dissolved into liquid form using a finger. Now the gofun poweder is ready to be used as pigment for painting.

Take the melted white paint with a brush, gofun. (2021-03-05) by Wataru KawashimaKyoto Women's University, Lifestyle Design Laboratory

A brush is used for painting.

White plum blossoms are painted using gofun pigment, gofun. (2021-03-05) by Wataru KawashimaKyoto Women's University, Lifestyle Design Laboratory

White plum blossoms are painted using gofun pigment.

Draw a white plum on the gold fan surface, gofun. (2021-03-05) by Wataru KawashimaKyoto Women's University, Lifestyle Design Laboratory

"White plum blossoms" painted with gofun. (2021-03-05) by Wataru KawashimaKyoto Women's University, Lifestyle Design Laboratory

The painting is complete once it is dry.

Removing foreign objects from the shells, gofun (2020) by Nakagawa gofun and GwasendoKyoto Women's University, Lifestyle Design Laboratory

Making gofun 

The process of gofun-making involves first placing air-dried shells into a machine called kaikuruma, where they are thrown against each other to remove foreign objects attached to the surface of the shells.   

Hammer milling, gofun. (2020) by Nakagawa gofun and GwasendoKyoto Women's University, Lifestyle Design Laboratory

Hammer milling 

Shells with foreign objects removed go through a selection process where quality shells are chosen and first crushed into pieces measuring about 2-3 mm using a hammermill. 

Stamp milling, gofun. (2020) by Nakagawa gofun and GwasendoKyoto Women's University, Lifestyle Design Laboratory

Stamp milling 

The small shell pieces are further crushed to a finer form. 

Stamp milling, gofun. (2020) by Nakagawa gofun and GwasendoKyoto Women's University, Lifestyle Design Laboratory

Stone mortar, gofun. (2020) by Nakagawa gofun and GwasendoKyoto Women's University, Lifestyle Design Laboratory

Stone mortar 

The shell powder is ground to an even finer form as desired. 

Elutriation, gofun. (2020) by Nakagawa gofun and GwasendoKyoto Women's University, Lifestyle Design Laboratory

Elutriation 

The ground gofun powder is poured into a tub filled with water. Using the water’s buoyancy, larger particles sink to the bottom, while fine particles float at the top, allowing the separation of fine particles.  

Spread the gofun paste evenly on the cedar board to dry, gofun. (2020) by Nakagawa gofun and GwasendoKyoto Women's University, Lifestyle Design Laboratory

After removing impurities, the fine gofun is spread evenly over a board made from Japanese cedar and allowed to dry naturally over a period of about 10 days. Once dry, the powder is removed by tapping on the back of the board. This completes the making of gorun powder, a process that takes about 2 months from the initial kaikuruma shell cleaning.  

Gofun products. (2020) by © Nakagawa gofun and GwasendoKyoto Women's University, Lifestyle Design Laboratory

The finished gofun is packaged as pigment and for other uses, ready to be shipped and sold. 

Gofun products. (2020) by © Nakagawa gofun and GwasendoKyoto Women's University, Lifestyle Design Laboratory

Credits: Story

Information provided by: 

Nakagawa Gofun
Gwasendo
Wataru Kawashima

Text written by:


Chiaki Matsubara, Kyoto Women's University
Chika Okada, Kyoto Women's University


Photo by:

Syuzo Yamamoto, Gwasendo
Nakagawa Gofun
Dr Maezaki Shinya, Kyoto Women's University


English translation by:


Eddy Y.L. Chang

Project Director:


Dr. Maezaki Shinya, Associate Professor, Kyoto Women's University

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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