Only samurais could own swards, I thought before. But it‘s wrong.
Merchants in Edo brought well designed swards as accessories (Kiyu-Shouran Part8) and farmers learned swordplay.
Great swords were longed-for things for people in old times.
By the way, this museum is located near Ryogoku
Kokugikan in which sumo tournaments are held. Sumo and Japanese sword have
a longstanding relationship.
Swords are regarded as artworks nowadays because owning swords is
restricted by the law.
Sad to say, photography is prohibited in the exhibition room.
The brochure shows a finely honed cutting edge of a sword.
博物館のパンプレットも研ぎ澄まされた感じ。
相撲の聖地・両国、国技館のすぐ北側にある。
横綱に付く太刀持ち、行事が差す刀、相撲と刀は縁がある。
刀は武士の専有品だと思っていたが、町人がおしゃれとして身につけたり(嬉遊笑覧 (Part8)、農民が剣術の練習をしたりしていた。博物館に置かれている刀は、庶民の憧れの品であったと思う。
刀剣は、今では美術品として位置づけられている。
残念ながら、展示室内の撮影は禁止。
We can take photo in the information room
in the first floor.
一階の情報コーナーは撮影可能です
Swords and a spear are exhibited in front
of panels.
当地・墨田には、勝小吉など多くの侍が住んでいた
Manufacturing technique is shown at the
opposite side.
裏側には、美しい刀を作る技術が展示されている
Polishing a Japanese sword consists of twelve steps. This is a first half.
12段階の磨き工程(前半工程)
The second half: it is polished by the rod
finally.
後半工程、最後は磨き棒を使う。
Parts of a Japanese sword except for a blade. It says, "The typical chic of Japanese art crafts; it is a Japanese sword."、刃以外の部材
Those are actually art crafts. 美術品だ。
There is a rooftop garden in front of the exhibition room. We can see Former Yasuda Garden which was owned by the daimyo lord of Kasama in Ibaraki area. We can also see the roof of Ryogoku Kokugikan sumo arena behind the garden.
展示室手前の屋上庭園からは、元笠間藩主の下屋敷であったと言われる旧安田庭園、そして両国国技館を望める。
There is an exhibition room nest to the roof garden, but it is prohibited to take photo.
その先は展示室だが、撮影は禁止。
Exhibited swords have excellent shape and shine. Those are sharp. I understand why people are fascinated by them.
形、光り、何れも鋭く、持ちたい気持ち、切りたくなる気持ちも分かる。
Entrance of the museum
Visited in September, 2019
Website: https://www.touken.or.jp/english/
https://www.touken.or.jp/museum/ (Much information in this Japanese site), accessed in August, 2020
Previous post (Ukiyo-e art museum, less than 10 minute walk from here、ご近所です):
Sumida Hokusai Museum すみだ北斎美術館
Next post (About Ryogoku, sumo wrestling district):
Ryogoku and Sumo Museum 両国と相撲博物館
Comments
Post a Comment