Motifs on wooden box delight

Written by Writer on Thursday, October 30th, 2008

FAVORITE TREASURES OF SHOSO-IN / Motifs on wooden box delight

This is the second in a series of articles to mark the 60th Annual Exhibition of Shoso-in Treasures at the Nara National Museum. The Yomiuri Shimbun asked people from various fields to introduce one of their favorite pieces from the exhibition.

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Suo-ji Kingin E no Hako

Sappanwood-stained wood box with gold and silver painted design of flowers, performers and parrots

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Atsushi Uemura, Japanese-style painter

If you look at this box carefully, you’ll find images of three children on its lid. Delighted, one of them dances half-naked between the other two–one playing a hand drum and the other a recorder. I felt as if I could hear their cheerful tunes.

The reddish-brown base of the box’s outer surface is stained in layers with valuable sappanwood dye, called “suo” in Japanese, and decorated with gold and silver motifs.

It’s gorgeous. At the same time, the flowing lines and delightful atmosphere of these motifs make the piece seem approachable.

Moreover, I get a sense of peace from the space bearing no ornamentation. I wonder what was kept in the box.

I presume its makers took a lot of time from design to completion of this box. But they probably didn’t think they were making a work of art. They just put themselves into the work, creating this beautiful box that has enchanted people for ages.

As an artist, I feel as if the three children have secretly told me not to forget the pure spirit of the work.
(Oct. 29, 2008)