{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/presentation/2/context.json","@type":"sc:Manifest","@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/35708dfb-40f2-420c-98e2-99a0644689d7/manifest","label":"gaa_large-japanese-mix-alloy-bronze-vase_281_281","metadata":[{"label":"Identifier","value":"gaa_large-japanese-mix-alloy-bronze-vase_281_281"},{"label":"Citation","value":"Object Name, Date Original (if known), GettDigital: Asian Art Collection, Special Collections / Musselman Library, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Access Date, Link to Item"},{"label":"Repository","value":"Special Collections and College Archives, Musselman Library, Gettysburg College"},{"label":"Inventory Number","value":"281"},{"label":"Part of","value":["Asian Art GettDigital Collection"]},{"label":"Provenance","value":"The Estate of Prof. Frank Kramer"},{"label":"Genre","value":["Artifacts"]},{"label":"Object Location","value":"CG.3"},{"label":"Date","value":"D:00 M:00 Y:1800 - D:00 M:00 Y:2000"},{"label":"Date Original","value":"19th-20th century CE"},{"label":"Era","value":["Attributed to the Meiji period"]},{"label":"Measurement","value":"Height: 36.5 cm (approximate); Diameter at mouth (indented): Outer 20 cm, inner 11 cm; Diameter at foot ring: 13 cm"},{"label":"Medium","value":["Mix metal alloy","Metal"]},{"label":"Country of Origin","value":["Japan"]},{"label":"Description","value":"Metal was always an important medium during the warfare periods of the history of Japan. This attractive Japanese mix-metal bronze vase is a great example of Japan's long history of metalsmith, influenced by China and Korea, which began as early as the 4th century AD. The amazing abundance of Japanese folklore is enriched with the belief in demons and spirits that sprang from mythology and superstitions carried over from various religious traditions. Stories about other realms explain events in nature that might have been otherwise difficult to understand. The qualities of decorative bronze objects that fuse traditional Japanese lyricism are obvious on the decorated surface of this vessel with the legend of Shoki and Oni, one of the most colorful and definitely a timeless national favorite that portrays two prominent folklore characters who grew out of the religious traditions of Shintoism and Buddhism in Japan and Taoism in China. Images of similar legendary subjects are interpretations and reinterpretations in different mediums, yet, they are not mere copies of each other. The depiction of images from nature as well as legends equally appeals to the contemporary viewers' aesthetic sensibility in different ways when they are artfully executed. Japanese's preferences for simple and asymmetrical designs are clearly shown on the surface of this vessel. The style and design of the vessel bear the aesthetic qualities of the Komai wares, best known for their iron base worked with a copper technique called nunome zogan, shakudo (gold, silver, copper inlaid), and a center with clear historical or legendary image on a stylized surface. According to George Savage, the peculiar genius of Japanese bronzesmith lies in the novel techniques of inlaying and coloring, of which a lobster-red patina to copper is very difficult to attain.* The artist used the Mokune technique to raise the surface from the back in slight bosses. Inlays of silver, gold and other copper alloys accentuate the details of the figures engraved in low-relief writhing around the surface: Shoki with his fierce looking and luxuriant spreading beard; Oni with his wide-rim straw hat. He may have also used the maki-e technique in which pre-drawings and the multiple applications of metals with subsequent polishing build up the desire patterns. In the hope of shedding light on the provenance of this piece; the sole source is style and the reading of the calligraphic line written in Japanese scripts in cursive style along with the seal \"made in Japan,\" also in cursive style and located on the opposite side of the surface. The first part of the line informs the age of the artist: \"Seventy-two year old man; \" the second part is his name in Japanese which is difficult to pronounce, even for a Japanese speaking person. The last character means \"etched/carved by Fan-a-mi sheng-yi\" (if we read it in Chinese). This vessel was exhibited at Philadelphia museum (from Dr. Kramer's note below). However, it could be a collecting or decorative object in a domestic setting. It would be also hard to define the imposed aesthetic standards upon art objects by categorizing some as belonging to \"fine\" art and others to \"craft\". Late 19th century objects such as large vases with glorious colors of exceptional technical skill and inspiring myths were specifically produced for Western consumption.** * The story of Shoki began in the Chinese province of Shensi, where he was known as Chung Kuei. It is said that he lived during the T'ang dynasty and that his sole aim in life was to become a physician to the royal court. Shoki was rejected by the emperor because of his ugly appearance. He was so distraught at seeing his dream shattered by something he had no control over, that he took his own life. He killed himself in front of the emperor on the very steps of the imperial palace. The emperor was overcome with grief and remorse, feeling that his insensitivity had been responsible for the death of this honest and hard-working man. The emperor ordered that Shoki be buried with the highest honors usually reserved for royalty. Shoki's spirit, grateful to the emperor - vowed to protect him against demons. From China, the story of Shoki traveled to Japan during the Edo period (1600 - 1868). In the Japanese myths, Shoki quells demons rather than killing them. According to legend, Shoki, otherwise known as the Demon-Queller, is regarded as the god of the afterlife and of exorcism.* Oni is one of the malicious demons. He represents the emotions and traits associated with evil and wrongdoing. Shoki is able to scare them away from their hapless human victims. Japanese families with male children used to hang images of Shoki outside their houses for protection of their sons and to ward off evil spirits and demon-caused ill fortune during Tango no Sekku (Boys' Day Festival), annually held on the fifth day of the fifth month (May). ** See George Savage's A Concise History of Bronzes."},{"label":"Title","value":"Large Japanese mix-alloy bronze vase"},{"label":"Rights","value":"Materials available through GettDigital encompass a wide range of works, many of which are in the public domain. However, some items may still be protected by copyright or other intellectual property rights. Users are responsible for determining the copyright status of materials and ensuring compliance with all applicable laws when reproducing or publishing these works. Items in our GettDigital Collections are for educational use. For assistance in understanding rights, obtaining permissions, or requesting files for publication or research purposes, please contact us at <a href=\"www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/ask-an-archivist\">www.gettysburg.edu/special-collections/ask-an-archivist</a>"},{"label":"Reference URL","value":"http://cdm16274.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p4016coll6/id/2220"}],"description":"Large Japanese mix-alloy bronze vase","sequences":[{"@type":"sc:Sequence","canvases":[{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/35708dfb-40f2-420c-98e2-99a0644689d7/canvas/_1","@type":"sc:Canvas","label":"gaa_281bk","height":2740,"width":1624,"images":[{"@type":"oa:Annotation","motivation":"sc:painting","resource":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/c4c1b691-7159-4cbe-bca7-906e63d34a94/full/full/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","format":"image/jpeg","service":{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/context.json","@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/c4c1b691-7159-4cbe-bca7-906e63d34a94","profile":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/level2.json","tiles":[{"width":1024,"scaleFactors":[1,2,4]}]},"height":2740,"width":1624},"on":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/35708dfb-40f2-420c-98e2-99a0644689d7/canvas/_1","metadata":[{"label":"Identifier","value":"gaa_281bk"},{"label":"Title","value":"Back"},{"label":"Reference URL","value":"http://cdm16274.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p4016coll6/id/2218"}]}],"thumbnail":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/c4c1b691-7159-4cbe-bca7-906e63d34a94/full/500,500/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","height":500,"width":500}},{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/35708dfb-40f2-420c-98e2-99a0644689d7/canvas/_2","@type":"sc:Canvas","label":"gaa_281detail","height":2692,"width":1588,"images":[{"@type":"oa:Annotation","motivation":"sc:painting","resource":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/84c0d5fe-6d1c-4c25-8264-8bc097318599/full/full/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","format":"image/jpeg","service":{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/context.json","@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/84c0d5fe-6d1c-4c25-8264-8bc097318599","profile":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/level2.json"},"height":2692,"width":1588},"on":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/35708dfb-40f2-420c-98e2-99a0644689d7/canvas/_2","metadata":[{"label":"Identifier","value":"gaa_281detail"},{"label":"Title","value":"Detail"},{"label":"Reference URL","value":"http://cdm16274.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p4016coll6/id/2219"}]}],"thumbnail":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/84c0d5fe-6d1c-4c25-8264-8bc097318599/full/500,500/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","height":500,"width":500}},{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/35708dfb-40f2-420c-98e2-99a0644689d7/canvas/_3","@type":"sc:Canvas","label":"gaa_281fr","height":2728,"width":1684,"images":[{"@type":"oa:Annotation","motivation":"sc:painting","resource":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/ccab69fa-2132-4f8d-97b5-d83e61dec15d/full/full/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","format":"image/jpeg","service":{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/context.json","@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/ccab69fa-2132-4f8d-97b5-d83e61dec15d","profile":"http://iiif.io/api/image/2/level2.json"},"height":2728,"width":1684},"on":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/35708dfb-40f2-420c-98e2-99a0644689d7/canvas/_3","metadata":[{"label":"Identifier","value":"gaa_281fr"},{"label":"Title","value":"Front"},{"label":"Reference URL","value":"http://cdm16274.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p4016coll6/id/2217"}]}],"thumbnail":{"@id":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/ccab69fa-2132-4f8d-97b5-d83e61dec15d/full/500,500/0/default.jpg","@type":"dctypes:Image","height":500,"width":500}}]}],"thumbnail":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/c4c1b691-7159-4cbe-bca7-906e63d34a94/full/300,300/0/default.jpg","logo":"https://iiif.quartexcollections.com/gettysburg/iiif/logo"}