Collaborative Research
A Study of Samurai Objects as resources for Comparative History and Intercultural Presentation
| Type of Research | NIHU Joint Research projects |
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| Project Title | Trans-disciplinary projects of cultural resources |
| Research Title | A Study of Samurai Objects as resources for Comparative History and Intercultural Presentation |
| Head of the Research Team | KOJIMA Michihiro |
| Research Period | 2005–2008 |
| Research Team |
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| Purpose | The National Museum of Japanese History holds a significant quantity of Samurai related materials, including weapon collections such as armor and guns; ancestral documents from the middle and modern ages (documents of Echizen–Shimazu Family dated from the Kamakura to Edo Era, Kamei Family documents dated from the Shokuho Era to Edo Era and Hatamoto Honda Family documents dated from the Edo Era); screens including the Rakucho Rakugai Sreens and Edo–zu Screens; picture scrolls depicting the Early Nine–Years War and the Yuki War; Nishiki paintings as the representations of the later ages; pottery as symbols of prestige; roof tiles from castle remains; and accessories of modern Samurai, etc. Listings of these items according to each material field and collection have been made, however no research has been conducted on connecting these items to their users as Samurai in terms of their presence in society. If we connect these materials to the Samurai, we can give an accurate depiction of the image and role of the Samurai. For this purpose, we want to compare these materials with the materials held by other institutions and with similar materials overseas. In order to integrate this information with the Samurai and their related materials, we need to relativize the actual existence of the Samurai. For relativization, exhibiting the Samurai as a "different culture" to the overseas audience is an efficient method. That is to say, the Samurai obviously exists in Japanese history although the Samurai needs to be historically and generally explained in comparative history. Reconsidering Samurai related materials from such point of view can generate new aspects of research. In order to do this, it is possible to make concrete targets on how to create historical exhibitions of a "different culture". Building an exhibition overseas is an experimental trial for studies on representations and museums, which can make a contribution to the mutual understanding between different cultures. This exhibition can be applied to other fields and can make for effective research concerning the exhibition of "a local culture as a different culture" in diversified areas. On this premise, we want to analyze the Samurai and study how to use these Samurai related materials for an exhibition representing history and culture. |
2008
Progress
[International Workshops]
April 21 to 27, 2008 Japan–France Symposium and visit Guime Museum in Lyon and the Bibliothèque
Municipale de Lyon.
The fourth Japan–France Symposium
| Schedule: Tuesday 22 of April, 2008 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Venue: Musee du Conservaloire National des Arts et Metiers, 11th floor Hall |
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Participants: 23
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| 〈Schedule〉 |
Introduction: Michel Colardel and Michihiro Kojima Session I
Session II
Commentator: Anne–Marie Chess General Director: Pierre Francois Souyri |
[Workshops]
| September 11, 2008 Venue: Tokyo National Museum |
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Presenter: TAKAHASHI Yuji Visit the Samurai related exhibitions and study the materials |
[International Seminar]
| November 29, 2008 Venue: National Museum of Japanese History |
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International Seminar
Interpreter: Markus Ruettermann (International Research Center for Japanese Studies). Ayumu Ota (National Museum of Japanese History) |
[Workshops]
| March 5, 2009 Venue：National Museum of Japanese History |
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| Workshop for research annals (mini–symposium in order to discuss reports’ contents) |
Result
Aiming to summarize the research results, we were able to finish almost all events planned for this year.
The fourth Japan–France Symposium "Images of the Samurai and the Knight, and Recognizing the Samurai and Knight in Each Age" was to be held at the Musée des Civilisations de l'Europe et de la Méditerranée in France, however, it was postponed and its scaled down and held in Paris due to budgetary constraints caused by the changing of the President of France. We primarily discussed the following matters: continuity from the ancient to the middle ages; Samurai and nobles; common points in North Asia; changes in the modern age; and visions of the Middle–Ages in the modern age.
In summarizing our five–years of continued research, we are planning to publish our research annals and construct an exposition of the Samurai related materials at the National Museum of Japanese History. We are planning also to include the French research papers and publish new report annals during the year 2009.
We have obtained a lot of knowledge about materials and exhibitions of the Middle–Age from the Deutsches Historisches Museum Berlin. Taking advantage of a business trip to East–Asia by the Assistant Director Hans–Martin Hinz,we held an international seminar at the National Museum of Japanese History and asked Tsuneo Yasuda, who is in charge of the modern exhibition at the museum to be the commentator at the seminar. While the topic did not directly relate to the Samurai or knights, it contributed greatly to answering questions arising in general historical exhibitions.
At the workshop held at the Tokyo National Museum, we viewed the Samurai related materials held by this museum and explanations about the preceding historical exhibitions which used dramatization mannequins. After this workshop, we were able to conduct a comparative research project with the National Museum of Japanese History.
As for the above symposium and seminar, we summarized the results in the 2008 report and distributed it to all relevant persons.
The National Institutes for the Humanities published the following books to serve as the midterm reports:
"Midterm Reports on Intermediary Promotion of Theme Proposals of the National Institute for the Humanities, High Utilization of Cultural Resources, and Diversification of Samurai Related Materials Utilizable for Comparative History and Cross–Cultural Representation" edited by Michihiro Kojima issued February 2008
A midterm report is also included in the "Humanities Review vol. 3" (November 2008) issued by the National Institutes for the Humanities. Please refer to these dossiers for our general activities and research results.
The research conducted by Shinichi Saeki under the theme "The Samurai Way" appeared in the French academic journal thanks to Pierre Francois Souyri with the title as follows:
Saeki Shinichi "Figures du samourai dans l’histoire japonaise Depuis Le Dit des Heike jusqu’au Bushido" Annales, 63–4, 2008
«"Figures of Samurai in the History of Heike Family and Bushido (Samurai way) » written by Shinichi Saeki translated by Pierre Francois Souyri, extract from the Annales, 63–4 July 2008
We want to specially mention this fact as one of the outstanding acheivments of this research.
2007
Progress
[Workshops]
| First workshop held on May 2, 2007 Venue: the National Museum of Japanese History |
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| Second workshop held on September 13, 2007 Venue: the National Museum of Japanese History |
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| Third workshop held on October 24 and 25 Venue: Mielparque–Kyoto |
Study of the special exhibition "Kano Eitoku" at the Kyoto National Museum
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| Fourth workshop held on March 10, 2008 Venue: the National Museum of Japanese History |
Presentations of studies in Germany and France (2) Discussion for the International Symposium to be held in France in 2008 |
[Investigation]
| 1. Investigation in France (1) (Archieves Nationales de France and Fontevraud–l'Abbaye, etc.) Period: June 16 to 24, 2007 |
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| Participants: TAKAHASHI Kazuki and HIROKOSHI Koichi |
| 2. Investigation in Germany (Deutsches Historisches Museum Berlin, etc.) Period: December 10 to 17, 2007 |
| Participants: KOJIMA Michihiro, KONDO Yoshikazu, CHIDA Yoshihiro and TAKAHASHI Kazuki |
| 3. Investigation in France (2) (castles of Middle ages) Period: February 23 to March 2 |
| Participants: HIROKOSHI Koichi, OTOMO Kazuo and KASAYA Kazuhiko |
Result
(1) Results of domestic research projects
As for domestic research, we examined the Samurai as depicted in the painted materials at the exhibition "West Capital, East Capital" at the National Museum of Japanese History. As a result, we learned that the Rakuchu Rakugai Screens contain Samurai whose names are identifiable and the costumes indicate their social classes. However it is difficult to judge social classes by viewing the costumes of non–samurai individuals such as court nobles, and it is necessary to read the background of the paintings. We found a similarity between the scenes of the Daimyo’s attendants’ waiting room in Edo Castle drawn on the "Edo Tojo Screens" and the scenes of the government drawn on the "Rakuchu Rakugai Screen". Such similarities greatly helped us interpret the depicted scenes. We were able to conduct this comparative investigation at the exhibition of "Kano Eitoku" held at the Kyoto National Museum".
When we think about what tconstitutes Samurai related material, it is important to uncover all of the ancestrial materials of the Samurai Family. From this point of view, we were also able to conduct a thorough investigation into the Shinano Family.
(2) Results of overseas investigations
We conducted overseas investigations three times. Starting from June 2007, we investigated the printed documents held by Archieves Nationales de France and the exhibition "Heros and Merveilles of Middle Ages" at the Fontevraud–l'Abbaye. This exhibition was based upon the book "Héros & Merveilles de Moyan Age" written recently by Jacques Le Goff, a historian of the Middle Ages who, rather than using the usual method of displaying actual artifacts from the past, instead studies images of the Middle Ages created after that period, a method of creating historical displays which has garnered a lot of attention. In Germany, we visited the Deutsches Historisches Museum Berlin and its surrounding museums in December 2007 and we were able to examine documents and materials related to knights, and the historical developments and social background of armor which had not been sufficiently investigated in France. These German museums were only sparsely populated with Japan related materials and exhibitions, but this may be a reflection of the historical relationship which requires further investigation.
During the investigation period from February to March, 2008 in France, we mainly investigated castle remains under the theme of the symposium held with France from 2004 to 2005 with systematic investigation of Middle Age remains.
As for the publication of research results, Kojima and Iwabuchi (a guest speaker) made individual presentations of their research projects on painted materials. In relation to the research results on the Rakuchu Rakugai Screens, Kojima gave a presentation for the the press release at the National Museum of Japanese History. As for the general research results, an intermediary report was submitted as a result of cooperative research. We are planning to publish part of our research at the exhibition on the documents of Samurai families of the Middle Ages which will be held in 2010 at the National Museum of Japanese History.
2005
Progress
(1) Investigation in France
During February 12 to 19, Michihiro Kojima, Kazuki Takahashi, Yoshikazu Kondo (guest teacher of the History of Arms and Weapons, the National Museum of Japanese History) and Yuka Inoue (research supporter of Education for International Understanding, the National Museum of Japanese History) visited France. We discussed research details with European members and together studied Samurai family related materials and Japan related exhibitions, and the representations of and education about the middle ages and knights in France.
〈Investigation of Samurai related materials in France〉
We visited and studied the materials held by the Guimet Museum and the French Army Museum in Paris and we obtained a more significant outcome than we had expected. The Guimet Museum is famous for its religious art but it also holds many pieces of armor and swords. We learned that its swords with Mei (inscriptions) are designated as important cultural properties. These museums hold a wide collection of Kabutos (armor) and decorated swords which are not frequently seen in Japan. A part this collection is comprised of Hamamono (customized items for exportation) from the end of Edo Era and the beginning of Meiji Era. The Kabutos made in the 17th century show the same characterics of Hamamono, customized for exportation. It seems that there exists arms and armor which were custom made in the same manner as the lacquer ware and pottery. It is quite interesting to realize that these materials were not actually used by Samurai but rather that they were customized so as to be suitable for the European image of the Samurai. It has become even more important to view the Samurai by comparing their reality with their created image, and we need to conduct further research on this point.
In addition to these museums in Paris, we obtained information that the Guimet Museum in Lyon holds Samurai related materials but could not afford an investigative trip this time. It is possible that we will be able to find some materials held in personal collections but we cannot expect very much. We also noticed that the Japan related materials which had been in the Louvre Museum were transferred to the Guimet Museum upon its nationalization.
〈Investigation of Japanese related exhibitions and exhibitions of middle ages〉
Japan related exhibitions are held at the Guimet Museum and French Army Museum (in a recently opened exhibition room). These are exhibitions created from an artistic and archaeological point of view but they do not give any historical background.
The exhibitions of the middle ages of France mainly held at the National Museum of Middle Ages and the Louvre Museum showed mainly religious items. The arms and armor of knights are held by the French Army Museum. The exhibitions centered on 15th to 16th century collections but there were no historical depictions of the knights of the middle ages. Rather we should say that there were hardly any cross genre historical exhibitions.at all.
As for education, fourth grade children begin studying French history from prehistoric times but high school students learn about only the modern and recent ages, therefore, they do not have much knowledge about the Middle Ages in general. However there are many childrens’ historical books about knights and the Middle Ages and some of them introduce the Japanese Samurai as being similar figures in world history.
Through the studies conducted above, we were able to get a rough idea of the state of materials, exhibitions and education which form the initial premise of this research.
(2) Discussions in Japan
Due to scheduling conflicts it was quite difficult to hold a meeting with all the Japanese members. Therefore only the National Museum of Japanese History members gathered and had a meeting on February 3, in order to discuss the research schedule, and we heard from the other members separately.
