Description
This very long, extraordinary Boys Day Banner exhibits an exciting legend from Japan’s History. This Banner and its accompanying partner are very unusual in that they have been hand woven of natural Bast fibers. The weaving of grass Bast fibre (linen), known collectively in Japan as “Asa,” is best represented by Ramie (“Choma” or “Karamushi”). It seems to have been cultivated in fields from the time of its introduction to Japan. The use of these fabrics was restricted to the noble and the wealthy
No two Banners are exactly alike, as each Banner was a hand painted gift from the maternal grandparents, who commissioned the design of the Banner from the artist, to their grandson who aspired to the manly characteristics portrayed by his Samurai ancestors. Heirloom banners are one of a kind. The Banners were painted entirely by hand and never dip-dyed. These enormous Banners exhibit dazzling colors that were created by brushing pigments or “Ganryo”, usually in a soybean-liquid binder, onto the surface of the fabric in a manner similar to Yuzen: the design is outlined in rice paste with a cylinder and then filled in with the desired pigment color.
This marvelously hand painted design continues the legend of Jingo Kogo (shown in #6203, the accompanying paired BDB), who assumed the Regency for her new born Son. She was generally attended by her aged Counselor, Take-uchi no Sukune who is shown here holding the infant Emperor Ojin, who would rule from A.D. 200-310 as the 10th Emperor of Japan. Take-uchi was a descendant of the 8th Emperor, who was appointed to the post of Prime Minister which he retained during the reigns of the 4 succeeding sovereigns. His appointment as Minister is the 1st event recorded in the Koji-ki (Record of Ancient Matters), and he accompanied Empress Jingo on the Korean expedition. He died during the reign of Nintoku-tenno, A. D. 313-399, at the advanced age of either 280 or 360 years as it has been variously computed.
This brilliant heirloom Banner includes the family crest or “Mon,” which is the pictorial symbol of the family. The crest is based on that of crossed feathers (“Takanoha”), which carried a military significance dating from the feudal era when it was customary for officers to display feathers at the side of their headgear. Several shrines adopted the falcon feather (“Takaha”) as their official emblem, thus providing a religious dimension to that of the military. This is an important historic piece of Japanese History in the form of a Boys Day Banner commemorating this branch of one of Japan’s ruling families
A Certificate of Authenticity is included.
TTAC will personally pack and ship via UPS at company expense within the continental United States.
