The Mark of Beauty : Mingei (Folk Art)

By NHK Educational

The Mark of Beauty : NHK Educational

【Folk Art】prologueOriginal Source: The Japan Folk Crafts Museum

Yanagi SoetsuOriginal 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

Setomono Matsuri (Sale of Japanese "Setomono" pottery) in Seto City, Aichi prefectureOriginal Source: Seto city office

Point 2 : The Folk Art Discovered by Yanagi

In the city of Seto, Aichi prefecture, which has an abundance of clay, the production of pottery has flourished for 1,000 years.

Seto wareOriginal 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

Mizuno Yusuke, the 8th generation owner of the Seto Hongyo KilnOriginal Source: Seto city office

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. 

Seto wareOriginal Source: Seto city office

A dish that is part of daily life is something that you will never tire of, even if you use it every day

Onta wareOriginal Source: The Japan Folk Crafts Museum

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.

The Onta district in Oita prefectureOriginal Source: Hita City Tourism Association

The Onta district in Oita prefecture became a pottery town in 1705.  It has a population of 59. Ten different kilns stand on both sides of the 150 meter-long road, and they create ceramics using secrets handed down within their own workshops.

【Folk Art】 Onta ware1Original Source: Takumi Sakamoto

The Onta district in Oita prefectureOriginal Source: Hita City Tourism Association

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

The Onta district in Oita prefectureOriginal Source: Hita City Tourism Association

Yanagi Soetsu discovered "the beauty of society" in Onta.

Credits: Story

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

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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