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
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.
Hitoyogiri flute (17th century, Edo period) by UnknownTachibana Museum
Hitoyogiri flute
This is a vertical flute owned by Tachibana Muneshige. It was created by Hara Zensai who was active in the 17th century as a master of making hitoyogiri flutes.
Yari spearhead, signed ‘Kanesada’ (1537) by KanesadaTachibana Museum
Yari spearhead, signed ‘Kanesada’
This is a large yari (spearhead) created by Kanesada, a swordsmith in Mino Province (modern Gifu Prefecture). The blade is 38.7 cm in length and engraved with a title given to the Shinto gods.
Dark blue leather laced shoulder guards of black scales (16th century, Muromachi-Momoyama period) by UnknownTachibana Museum
Dark blue leather laced shoulder guards of black scales
This pair of shoulder guards was made around the 16th century. Wide type shoulder guards like this piece were produced for protecting shoulders against arrows. They became obsolete with the arrival of guns.
The Life of the Tachibana Princesses
Katabira with Goshodoki pattern (19th century, Edo period) by UnknownTachibana Museum
Katabira with Goshodoki pattern
Katabira is an unlined garment worn in summer. This katabira was executed some techniques such as Surihitta-dye (stencil imitation tie-dying) and embroidery to depict patterns of flowers, a cottage, and a rooster family, which can be seen on the lower part of the kimono.
The Life of Daimyo
Saddle and Stirrups with design of sacred animal Sai (1662) by attributed to Ishiguro TeikyuTachibana Museum
Saddle and Stirrups with design of sacred animal Sai
Each piece is made of wood, coated with gold nashiji (pear skin pattern) lacquer, and sumptuously embellished with design of the Tachibana family crest and Sai —a legendary animal with a single horn and carapace.
Saddle with design of carp ascending a waterfall (1744) by designed by Kano Tan-yuTachibana Museum
Saddle with design of carp ascending a waterfall
It represents a metaphor for achievement and advancement in life, and derives from a Chinese legend about a carp, which succeeded in leaping a waterfall called Ryumon in the rapid stream of the Yellow River, and was transformed into a dragon.
Quiver covered with black boar skin (19th century, Edo period) by UnknownTachibana Museum
Quiver covered with black boar skin
This was used for carrying arrows and was hung by the waist or over the shoulder.
To use it, one must set down the lattice frame and put the arrows with the heads facing downward into the box through the lattice.
The Tea-ceremony Utensils
Jar with cinnabar colored arabesque
This jar was made by turning the potter's wheel clockwise. The slightly distorted body expands at the shoulder and becomes narrower towards the round base. The wide-open mouth curls inward. Glaze has been applied on both the inside and outside, producing a glossy pale blue.
Ewer with a landscape design in underglaze blue, Sue ware (19th century, Edo-Meiji period) by SAWADA ShunzanTachibana Museum
Ewer with a landscape design in underglaze blue, Sue ware
This ewer, with a lid knob in the shape of a dog, is one of the tea utensils used during tea ceremonies. It is filled with indigo blue patterns which are created via the sometsuke technique.
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.
Tortoise-shell sake cup with design of hawk on plum tree (19th century, Edo-Meiji period) by UnknownTachibana Museum
Tortoise-shell sake cup with design of hawk on plum tree
The hawk is depicted in taka maki-e (high-relief sprinkled metal design), while the plum tree is in hira maki-e (flat sprinkled metal design) on the tortoise-shell cup.This exquisite wine piece is believed to have been made for a special order by Tachibana family.
Sake cup with maki-e design of Echigo-ya (19th century, Edo period) by attributed to Heisensai JoukyuTachibana Museum
Sake cup with maki-e design of Echigo-ya
The luxurious two-story buildings of the shop are shown in the foreground on either side of the Suruga-cho Street in Edo (now Tokyo). The Edo Castle and Mt. Fuji are visible in the distance. In the sky, flying birds are depicted in black lacquer.
Sake cup with maki-e design of Oki-no-ishi (19th century, Edo period) by UnknownTachibana Museum
Sake cup with maki-e design of Oki-no-ishi
An offshore view is depicted on the vermillion lacquered flat cup, by using various techniques of maki-e (lacquer decoration) — The splashes are expressed by silver metal powder, crests of waves are covered with white mitsuda (oil coat), shells are made by mother-of-pearl inlay
Sake cup with sugoroku board game design (Supplemental) (19th century, Edo-Meiji period) by KōryusaiTachibana Museum
Sake cup with sugoroku board game design (Supplemental)
This wine cup has a rare design featuring a board game ‘sugoroku (Japanese backgammon)’. The spirally arranged design is executed in hira maki-e (flat sprinkled metal decoration) on the vermilion lacquered surface.
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.
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.
Picture scroll of the tale of Geishu Budayu
It tells the story of a boy named Inou Heitaro who had fearlessly confronted ghosts and monsters for one month, which is based on his experience in the mid Edo period (18th century). The story had been introduced in various ways, known by the name of “Ino Mononoke Roku”.It describes Heitaro’s experience vividly. The monsters which appeared at his house almost every night were all terrifying, but there is something charming
〜Permanent Exhibition〜
The Successive Arms and Armor of Daimyo TACHIBANA
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.
