Traditional Motifs in Japanese Art: Insects
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Comb with Dewy Grass and Bell Crickets, Edo period, 19th century (Gift of Mr. Yamaguchi Seizo)
Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 14
May 20, 2025 (Tue) - July 6, 2025 (Sun)Since ancient times, the four seasons have stirred the emotions of the Japanese people, inspiring them to create a variety of patterns and motifs based on nature. Among these, insects hold a special place. Butterflies, for example, appear from spring to fall, cicadas herald the arrival of summer, dragonflies are closely associated with the samurai, and bell crickets symbolize late summer and early fall. This exhibition explores how the Japanese transformed these insects into unique decorative motifs.
| Designation | Name | Creation/ Excavation/ Provenance |
Period | Acquisition/ Ownership/ Accession Number |
CMT | ||
| Highlight | Important Cultural Property | Butterfly-Shaped Ritual Gong ("Kei") | Found in Matsumoto City, Nagano | Heian period, 1001 | Gift of Mr. Takahashi Tamotsu, E-15485 | ||
| Highlight | Surcoat ("Jinbaori") with a Swallowtail Butterfly | Reportedly given to the Mizoguchi clan by Oda Nobunaga | Azuchi-Momoyama period, 16th century | Gift of Mr. Tsuruta Yasuo, I-3478 |