Japanese Archaeology and Special Exhibition (Heiseikan) Thematic Exhibition Room
June 25, 2008 (Wed) - August 31, 2008 (Sun)
This year, the summer "Family Gallery" exhibition presents a selection of items from the museum's collection featuring motifs of fish and other water creatures such as shellfish, crabs and turtles. These motifs appear on a variety of different art works, from tableware to stationary items, accessories, and sword guards. Native fish of China, the Korean peninsula, Thailand and Vietnam also appear.
One of the focal points is the large imposing fish. This work is a shachihoko, an ornament made of bronze which adorned the roof of Edo Castle. Some of the smallest items in the gallery are small clam-shaped netsuke (toggles) from the Edo period (1603-1868), and the oldest items are ancient Jomon period (10000-500 B.C) clay objects in the shape of shellfish and turtles. Imagine why the Jomon people made sculptures of these familiar creatures 3000-4000 years ago.
A further highlight is the extremely lifelike paper weights and water droppers in shapes of decorative ornaments of turtles, crabs, and other water creatures made in large quantities during the Edo period. These were greatly admired in western countries and exported on a large scale until the Meiji period (1868-1912).
Discover the many fish and water creatures in the display cases, as you are visiting an aquarium.
Major works in this exhibition
