Treasure of Daimyo Tachibana
The collection of the Tachibana family, the successive lords of the Yanagawa domain, tells us the story of the daimyo family’s life with accuracy and plausibility.
The Arms and Armor of the First Lord Tachibana Muneshige
Matchlock named ‘Suminawa’ (16th-17th century, Momoyama period) by UnknownTachibana Museum
Matchlock named "Suminawa"
This matchlock gun was given to Muneshige from the lord of the Fukuoka domain. The name of the gun comes from the carpenter’s inking string, known as a Suminawa, used to draw a straight line. It is thought to have been named after the movement of the bullet of this matchlock.
Hotoke-marudo armour covered with nutbrown leather (16th century, Momoyama period) by UnknownTachibana Museum
Hotoke-marudo armor covered with nutbrown leather
The first Lord Muneshige's suit of armor. The combination of colors, such as the nutbrown leather of the cuirass, the red-lacquered tassets hanging beneath the cuirass and silver foil of the thigh guards, reflects the splendor of the Warring States period.
Wakizashi sword, named Raikirimaru (13th-16th century, Kamakura~Muromachi period) by UnknownTachibana Museum
Katana sword, attributed to Go Yoshihiro
Go Yoshihiro was an expert swordsmith in the Ecchu Province (modern Toyama) in the 14th century. However, it cannot be definitively said that this is Go Yoshihiro’s work because this katana sword has lots of features of Soshu-den style from Sagami Province (modern Kanagawa).
The Life of the Tachibana Princesses
Uchikake is a formal outer kimono for women in the upper samurai class. It was worn over a short-sleeved kimono without tying it at the waist with a sash.
Uchikake with design of a palace, court carriage and garden gates (19th century, Edo period) by UnknownTachibana Museum
Uchikake (outer kimono) with garden gate and court carriage
It is executed in embroidery and surihitta-dye (stenciled imitation of tie-dying) to express the palace quarters, garden gates and a court carriage on the crepe fabric. These motifs were typical designs of Uchikake, and were thought to imply some specific traditional literature.
Uchikake with design of lightning and rice sheaves (19th century, Edo period) by UnknownTachibana Museum
Uchikake with design of lightning and rice sheaves
High-ranking samurai women changed their wardrobes seasonally and chose their kimonos with proper designs for the season. Figured satin uchikake was worn as a formal attire from 9th of September to the end of March yearly.
There pieces are belongings of Princess Sumi, a wife of the 12th lord of the Yanagawa domain. She came from one of the three privileged branches of the shogun family. The Aoi (hollyhock) designs represented on the pieces are Shogun Tokugawa family crest.
Incense burner stand with maki-e design of Fujitomoe crest (18th century, Edo period) by UnknownTachibana Museum
Incense burner stand with maki-e design of Fujitomoe crest
The 7th lord’s wife, Princess Kiyoko’s bridal trousseau. She came from the Kuroda family, the lords of the Fukuoka domain. The swirl shaped wisteria in the center of the piece represents the Kuroda family’s crest.
Tea bowl and stand with peony crest (17th-19th century, Edo period) by UnknownTachibana Museum
Tea bowl and stand with peony crests
The flowering peony crests are engraved on the three places of the tin bowl in a sequence of fine lines. While the lid and stand are coated with gold nashiji lacquer, and two kinds of peony crests in hexagonal frames and pine needles are depicted in maki-e design.
The Tea-ceremony Utensils
Water jar in the shape of bentwood receptacle, Bizen ware (17th-19th century, Edo period) by UnknownTachibana Museum
Water jar in the shape of bentwood receptacle, Bizen ware
This ceramic jar was made to look like a wooden receptacle, circularly bended and bound at the edges in front. It is applied with iron glaze, and shows the scarlet color.
Water jar named Menpeki, red Raku ware (17th century, Edo period) by attributed to Donyu, the 3rd head of the Raku familyTachibana Museum
Water jar named Menpeki, red Raku ware
The name Menpeki was probably taken from its unique shape which reminds us of a figure of a Buddhist monk, Bodhidharma, in a Chinese legend ‘Menpeki-kunen (nine years of wall-gazing).’
From the seal of the jar, it is attributed to the third head of the Raku family, Donyu (1599-1656).
Brush washer shape tea bowl, 16th-17th century, Yi dynasty (left) ／ Red Oribe tea bowl with plum blossoms design, 17th century (center)／ Tea bowl with arabesque design in underglaze blue, 17th-19th century (right)
Kamachi ware were ceramics from an official kiln of the Yanagawa domain. The shiny and smooth surface is created by rubbing charcoal powder into the unglazed earthen ware and then polishing. The bright patchy pattern produces an elegant appearance.
The Tableware in the Tachibana Count's Residence
Dinnerware with wisteria designThese tableware was ordered to make along with the completion of the Tachibana family's residence in 1910. Each piece has the Tachibana family crest, wisteria design and Koransha’s brand mark of Arita ware in underglaze blue.
These pieces are from a tea set which was ordered to make along with the completion of the Tachibana family’s residence in 1910. The color combination of blue family crest and gold patterns on the white porcelain gives a noble and refreshing impression.
The Sumptuous Wedding Trousseau of the Tachibana Princesses
In the Edo period (1600-1868), the Kaiawase shells were used for wedding ceremonies, because the idea that only a mated pair of shells could match is linked to the image of conjugal harmony.
Chabento (portable tea set) (19th century, Edo period) by UnknownTachibana Museum
Portable tea set with maki-e design of Aoi crests
This tea set is for having tea and food outdoors. It stores tea bowls, tea stands, tea caddies, boxes for food and a set of a silver water jar and heater. The two chests were hung at both ends of a pole when they were carried by a servant.
〜Permanent Exhibition〜
The Successive Arms and Armor of Daimyo TACHIBANA
Gilded peach-shaped helmet (16th century, Momoyama period) by UnknownTachibana Museum
Gilded peach-shaped helmet【Audio guide 2】
These helmets are thought to have been prepared for the cavalry responsible for guarding the first Lord Muneshige on the battlefield. They were designed under the influence of a Western model. Each of the helmets had a tube on the back in which the black and white battle flag was inserted.
Tatami armor with karuta plates (17th century, Edo period) by UnknownTachibana Museum
Folding armor with karuta plates
This is the 2nd lord's spare armor brought to the Shimabara Rebellion (1637-38). The cuirass consists of karutagane (rectangle iron plates) connected by chains for folding.
Tatami armor with cherry blossom design (17th century, Edo period) by UnknownTachibana Museum
Tatami armor with cherry blossoms design【Audio guide 3】
This suit of armor was owned by the 3rd lord who lived in a peaceful period in the late 17th century. The cuirass is composed of iron plates linked together by chains and sewn onto the fabric backing to make the armor foldable. Each of the hexagonal plates has an openwork design of cherry blossoms. The bell-shaped helmet also shows a unique appearance.
Armor of two-piece cuirass embossed with a dragon (18th century, Edo period) by UnknownTachibana Museum
Nimai-dō armor of two-piece cuirass embossed with a dragon
This suit of armor was owned by the 4th lord. The cuirass was constructed with two plates that are arranged vertically and fastened at either side of the body. All the metal parts were elaborately made with an alloy of copper and gold which produces beautiful purplish black sheen.
Armor with embossed design of a dragon (1754) by UnknownTachibana Museum
Ryobikiawase-dō armor with embossed design of a dragon
This suit of armor was owned by the 7th lord. The cuirass was constructed with five plates that are bound together vertically. It was worn wrapped around the body and fastened on either side.
Mogami-do armor with light green lacing (1860) by Myochin KunisadaTachibana Museum
Mogami-dō armor with light green lacing【Audio guide 4】
This suit of armor was owned by Akitomo, the 12th and last lord of the Yanagawa domain. It was created with scrupulously refined techniques by Myōchin Kunisada who was an armorer patronized by the Yanagawa domain. The horn-like ornament attached to the helmet was designed after the motif of the Tachibana family crest.
The Wedding Trousseaus of Daimyo Families
A large number of luxurious wedding furniture was prepared for the wedding of a feudal lord’s daughter in the Edo period. Each piece was embellished with maki-e design representing the bride’s family crest.
Hasamibako chest with maki-e design of the Aoi crest (19th century, Edo period) by UnknownTachibana Museum
Hasamibako chest with Aoi crest【Audio Guide P5】
This lacquered chest is a piece of bridal trousseau of Princess Sumi, the wife of the 12th lord. She was a daughter of the Tayasu-Tokugawa family — one of the three privileged branches of the Shogun family. The three hollyhock leaves in a circle represents the Tokugawa family crest.
Nagamochi chest with maki-e design of the Aoi crest (19th century, Edo period) by UnknownTachibana Museum
Nagamochi chest with the Aoi crest
Nagamochi is a large portable chest for storing kimonos. It was carried by bearers using a long pole which could be passed through the metal handles on both sides of the chest. This lacquered chest is a piece of the bridal trousseau of Princess Sumi, the wife of the 12th lord.
Palanquin with maki-e design of the Gionmamori crests (19th century, Edo period) by UnknownTachibana Museum
Palanquin with crest design of Gionmamori【Audio Guide P6】
This palanquin was exclusively intended for women of high social rank, possibly carried by four bearers; two at the front and two at the back. It is sprinkled with gold powder, depicting two styles of the Tachibana family crest and a plum blossom scroll on the black lacquered surface.
Exquisite Dolls of the Tachibana Family
Dolls in the collection of the Tachibana family are characterized by the small size. Each of the tiny pieces is exquisitely crafted with impressive technique.
Yūsoku-bina dolls (19th century, Edo period) by UnknownTachibana Museum
Yūsoku-bina doll【Audio Guide P7】
A set of Hina dolls is displayed during the Doll Festival to celebrate the health and happiness of girls in Japan. Yūsoku-bina is one of the Hina dolls which appeared in Kyoto in the 18th century. They represent court nobles clad in exact replica of Imperial Court costume.
Miniature hina doll accessories (19th century, Edo period) by Edo NanasawayaTachibana Museum
Miniature Hina doll accessories【Audio Guide P8】
These astonishing miniature accessories replicate a bridal trousseau of a feudal lord family in the Edo period. They were made by Nanasawa-ya, a doll shop in Edo, now Tokyo. The shop was renowned for its skillful craftsmanship that faithfully reproduced miniatures of the original.
Keshi-bina dolls (19th century, Edo period) by Edo NanasawayaTachibana Museum
Keshi-bina doll【Audio Guide P9】
Keshi-bina is one of Hina dolls born in Edo, now Tokyo. ‘Keshi’ means ‘poppyseed’. There is a theory that tiny dolls became popular once the luxury goods were banned by sumptuary laws. This set of keshi-bina dolls was made by Nanasawa-ya, a famous doll shop in Edo.
Kamo dolls (19th century, Edo period) by UnknownTachibana Museum
Kamo doll【Audio Guide P10】
It is believed that the Kamo doll originated when an odd-job man of Kamigamo Shrine in Kyoto started making dolls using fabric tucked into a piece of wood. The characteristics of the dolls are their tiny size and warm smiles. Among them, smaller-sized dolls are roly-poly dolls with tiny weight in the round bottom. The smallest is only 5 mm in height.
Gosho doll (18th-19th century, Edo period) by UnknownTachibana Museum
Gosho doll【Audio Guide P11】
Gosho doll is one of the representative dolls of Japanese doll culture. Starting in the 18th century, the chubby infant doll with white glossy skin played a role as a court gift to feudal lords who had visited the Imperial Palace in Kyoto.
Saga doll (18th century, Edo period) by UnknownTachibana Museum
Saga doll
Saga dolls were created preceding Gosho dolls. Among them, it is said that specifically the naked Saga dolls influenced the creation of Gosho dolls. So, they look almost the same, but the naked Saga dolls are distinguished by its slim body.
