The Prayers of the Ainu and Decorative Art Objects of Ryukyu
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Five-Stringed Harp, Sakhalin Ainu, 19th century (Gift of Mr. Tokugawa Yorisada)
Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 16
May 9, 2023 (Tue) - July 30, 2023 (Sun)Stretching from north to south, the Japanese archipelago is home to diverse cultures that have flourished in its rich natural environments. Representing such cultures from northern Japan, this gallery sheds light on forms of prayer among the Ainu people. Exhibits consist of spiritual and ritualistic objects, including ritual spatulas and accessories such as necklaces that the Ainu people wore during rituals.
Representing a southern culture, decorative art objects from the Ryukyu Kingdom—mainly ceramics and textiles—are also on display in this gallery. The Ryukyu Kingdom developed its unique culture through trade with regions in Asia including China, Japan, the Korean Peninsula, and Southeast Asia.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | Sea Turtle Skull | Hokkaido Ainu | 19th century | K-25746 | |||
| Highlight | Sash with Decorative Fittings | Sakhalin Ainu | 19th century | Gift of the Hokkaido Project Management Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce, K-25741 | |||
| Sword Mountings | Hokkaido Ainu | 19th century | Transferred from the Bureau for the Vienna World Exposition, K-25730 | ||||
| Highlight | Ritual Spatula | Hokkaido Ainu | 19th century | K-27561 | |||
| Highlight | Smoking Set | Sakhalin Ainu | 19th century | K-29549 | |||
| Highlight | Horn | Hokkaido Ainu | 19th century | Gift of Mr. Takeda Masatsugu, K-25745 | |||
| Ritual Hoe-Shaped Crest | Hokkaido Ainu, Found in Kuriyama Town, Hokkaido | 19th century | Gift of Mr. Oda Katsukichi and Mr. Izumi Rintarō, K-27529-1 | ||||
| Cinerary Urn | Kogachi ware | Second Shō dynasty, Ryukyu kingdom, 18th–19th century | Gift of Mr. Tsutsumi Satoshi , K-39131 | ||||
| Highlight | Ryukyuan Roof Tile | Found at the Shuri Castle site, Okinawa | Second Shō dynasty, Ryukyu kingdom, 18th–19th century | J-25364-962 | |||
| Highlight | Outer Garment with Bamboo Curtains, Cypress Fans, Wisteria, and Clematis | Amami Ōshima Island | Second Shō dynasty, Ryukyu kingdom, 19th century | Gift of Ms. Yamato Ryōko, K-39059 | On exhibit through June 11, 2023 |