Sean's Blog

Ueno National Museum Field Trip Reflection

2012/05/13

On Tuesday, May 8th, 2012, we went to Tokyo National Ueno Zoo and Tokyo National Museum in Ueno. We got there by train. First, we went to the zoo and had lunch there. Then we went to the museum. I think this was my first time that I went to this museum but not the zoo. I think this is my second time to go to the zoo. It was Japanese style, outside of the museum. It was European style, inside of the museum. There was lot of space in the museum so I was surprised.

I studied 4 objects in the museum. One is “Ichigyosho” (Calligraphy in One Line). The connection is that it is in Kanji characters. “Ichigyosho” was written by Dairin Soto (1480-1568). Dairin Soto wrote it by using ink brush. This object was written at Muromachi period, 16th century and written in Japan. I don’t know why he wrote it. I chose to learn this object because Calligraphy is still famous now.

Second one is “Sansai Botan Monsara” (Peony design on three-color glaze, dish). The connection is that it looks like Chinese design. It is Kairakuen styled dish. This object was made in Edo period, 19th century. I don’t really know why people made this. The interesting thing about this dish is that the color is really calm.

The third object that I studied is “Kuro Urushino Tachi” (Sword Mounting, with black-lacquered scabbard). All the Tachi Swords were made in Japan and the designs were also made in Japan so there are no connections to other countries. It was made in Kamakura period, 13th-14th century. I don’t know who made this. It was made for war, fighting with others and for self defense. I chose this object because I liked the difference between “Katana” (sword, also made in Japan and has no connections to other countries).

The last object is “Kiseto Souka Monhirabachi” (Shallow Bowl, Flowering plant design). This shallow bowl looks like Chinese design. It is Mino styled dish. This object was made in Edo period, 16th-17th century.

I am not sure if it connects to Silk Road because it was only made in Japan. However, the ideas came from China and Japan changed it to their ideas. So, I think it is kind of related to Silk Road. I enjoyed learning different kinds of objects because there were interesting informations.

Entry Filed under: Humanities. Posted in  Humanities .