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Date : July 29, 2010 Valid until : March 28, 2010 |
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Yusoku - Formal Customs of the Imperial Court
| RoomT2, Honkan |
Wednesday, February 3 - Sunday, March 28, 2010 |
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Illustrated Album of Obsolete Courtly Customs: "Trip to Shugakuin Imperial Villa", By Fujishima Sukenobu, Meiji period, 19th - 20th century
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In the imperial court of the Heian period, the imperial family, their attendants, court ladies, and other people of the noble class dressed in colorful costumes and spent their days carrying out elegant rituals in the palace
surrounded by graceful furnishings and implements. The rituals, rites, annual events, appointed posts, social status, manners, architecture, furnishings, costumes, cuisine, and festivity at court were all accompanied by unique
formalities. The knowledge and study of such formal customs of court culture is called Yusoku.
In Japan, while aiming to establish a central government based on a system of fixed legal codes introduced from Sui- and Tang-dynasty China, a unique practice of formal manners developed to match the actual situations in
the country at that time. These ceremonious rituals, along with the splendors of court architecture and decorative art pieces, embodied a realm of elegant taste.
In the middle ages, however, the evolution of the warrior class and the resulting continuous battles devastated the court and hence the rituals were simplified and the traditions ceased. Later, the establishment of the
Tokugawa shogunate restored peace, and the rituals were revived. The palace was restored following the rules of the imperial court, and the preparations of costumes, furnishings, and implements in traditional styles were
prepared by imperial order. The knowledge of Yusoku was applied for the revival of these cultures.
This exhibition introduces furnishings which were made based on studies by Yusoku experts of the Edo period, along with fragments of fabric which tell of the styles of imperial court costume. Illustrated records of
rituals are also on view. |
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 Major works in this exhibition |
* Works listed below are in the TNM Collection unless otherwise indicated.
Illustrations based on Ruiju Zatsuyo Shu ("Reference Book of Courtly Customs"), Compiled by Takahashi Munetsune, Edo period, 18th century
Fragment of Courtly Garment, Edo period
Models of Sweets, Edo period, 19th century (Gift of Mr. Sakakibara Yoshino)
Illustrated Album of Obsolete Courtly Customs: "Trip to Shugakuin Imperial Villa", By Fujishima Sukenobu, Meiji period, 19th - 20th century
Kazari-tachi Style Sword Mounting, Formerly preserved by the Hirohashi family, Heian period, 12th century (National Treasure)
Two-Tiered Cabinet, From the Higyosha chamber, Kyoto Imperial Palace, Edo period, 19th century
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