By NHK Educational
The Mark of Beauty : NHK Educational
【Folk Art】prologueOriginal Source: The Japan Folk Crafts Museum
Point 1 : Japan's Aesthetic Tradition
The originator of the Mingei movement is Yanagi Soetsu (1889–1961). About 90 years ago, he traveled around Japan visiting people doing various kinds of handwork and published information about them in magazines and elsewhere. He re-evaluated the value of the handwork of Japan, which had been ignored.. "Surprising beauty resides in simple vessels and other works created selflessly ... They are made to carry on tradition and not to make a name for the creator," he wrote.
【Folk Art】Yanagi SoetsuOriginal Source: The Japan Folk Crafts Museum
This stoneware dish (ishizara) made in the Edo period (1603–1868) for everyday use is a masterpiece. It has animals and flowering plants painted on in a carefree manner. The appealing "tsuba" on this dish, which was produced for durability. Clockwise from upper left are, a stoneware dish with three-layered pine in underglaze iron brown, a stoneware dish with willow in in underglaze blue and iron brown, a stoneware dish with a chrysanthemum design, a stoneware dish with the first dream of the New Year in underglaze blue and iron brown, and a stoneware dish with a monkey pattern in underglaze blue
a stoneware dish with the first dream of the New Year in underglaze blue and iron brownOriginal Source: The Japan Folk Crafts Museum
a stoneware dish with a monkey pattern in underglaze blueOriginal Source: The Japan Folk Crafts Museum
a stoneware dish with three-layered pine in underglaze iron brownOriginal Source: The Japan Folk Crafts Museum
【Folk Art】Seto wareOriginal Source: Seto Hongyo
This is a kiln that has been in operation since the middle of the Edo period (1603-1868). Since that time, it has produced in great quantities of everyday dishes for the general populace.
A dish that is part of daily life is something that you will never tire of, even if you use it every day
Point 3 : Mingei is regionally rooted
Onta ware collected by Yanagi Soetsu. Yanagi visited the small mountain village where Onta ceramics are made and was deeply charmed by the artisans' techniques that had been carried on for 300 years.
【Folk Art】 Onta ware１Original Source: Takumi Sakamoto
The mortar (karausu). Clay is softened with this old-fashioned, water-powered device Another symbol of Onta is the common-use kiln. The techniques of the artisans have been protected and handed down amid their communal life in this village.
【Folk Art】 Onta ware２Original Source: Chikara Kuroki
Yanagi Soetsu discovered "the beauty of society" in Onta.
Cooperation:
The Japan Folk Crafts Museum
Seto city office
Seto Hongyo
Hita City Tourism Association
Takumi Sakamoto
Chikara Kuroki
Photography by Tadayuki Minamoto
Music by yuichi FUJISAWA
Supervised by
Maezaki Shinya, Associate Professor, Kyoto Women's University
M. Rinne, Kyoto National Museum
Produced by NHK Educational Corporation
©NHK2017
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