Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties - Publications
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Imperial Cultural Properties and Kaifeng in the Early Northern Song Dynasty: The Culture of the Imperial Court and the Buddhist Temples Qishengchanyuan and Daxiangguosi (Part II)
Get PDFFor résumé, see Bijutsu Kenkyu No. 404journal articl
Designation of Traditional Craftsmanship under the National Laws for the Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in East Asian countries - From the National Lists of Japan, China and Republic of Korea -\n
Get PDFDuring the fiscal year of 2009 and 2010, the department of Intangible Cultural Heritage, National Research Institute Cultural Properties, Tokyo has conducted research on safeguarding intangible cultural heritage (ICH) in the Asia-Pacific region. In the volume 4 (published in March 2010) and 5 (published in March 2011) of this report, I have categorized traditional craftsmanship in Asia-Pacific region, which has been inscribed on the ICH list of 2003 Convention and clarified the meaning of “Traditional Craftsmanship” that is understood in the Convention.
Amongst various countries in the Asia, these three countries of East Asia countries, Japan, China and Republic of Korea share many similarity in terms of culture. The thoughts such as Confucianism and Buddhism have spread throughout the East Asian countries and we share the use of Chinese characters and many culinary elements.
This report introduces the items of traditional craftsmanship based on the national lists of ICH in Japan, China and Republic of Korea, as well as the definition of ICH under their relevant national laws, policy of safeguarding ICH and the categories of traditional craftsmanship in each of the three countries.departmental bulletin pape
Survey of Insect Feces Gathered at Historic Buildings in Nikko : Comparison of the Shapes and Sizes of Insect Feces of Some Species of Anobiidae
Get PDFSince life period of adult Anobiidae is short in general,it is difficult to find live adults during visual survey on site. However,holes and insect feces can sometimes give information of activity and probable species. Feces of major wood-boring insects were collected in the large-scale survey of historic buildings in Nikko conducted in 2010. Five species of Anobiidae were found in the survey: Priobium cylindricum, Trichodesma japonicum, Sculptotheca hilleri, Hadrobregmus pertinax and Oligomerus japonicus. Insect feces of 4 of these species were collected from damaged wood and observed.
It was found that feces of Priobium cylindricum and those of Hadrobregmus pertinax are similar and they appear powdery to the naked eye but a closer look reveals them to be irregular in shape. Feces of Trichodesma japonicum are very similar to feces of Nicobium hirtum, but generally bigger in size. Feces of Sculptotheca hilleri also appear powdery to the naked eye, and when they were observed under a microscope it was found that many were globular shaped. As feces of Sculptotheca hilleri have characteristic shape and size when compared with those of other species of Anobiidae,it is likely to identify them from feces alone.
Information other than those of feces, such as the sizes of holes and distribution of insects, need to be taken into consideration when making more precise identification although insect feces can provide good clues for insect identification.journal articl
Analysis on Distribution of Beetles Captured by Adhesive Traps in Some Historic Wooden Buildings in Nikko
Get PDFA survey was conducted in some historic buildings in Nikko in 2009 using adhesive traps to clarify insect species that cause damage on historic buildings. Some characteristic species of Anobiidae were found as timber pests. Priobium cylingricum was trapped at Sambutsu-do of Rinnohji temple while Trichodesma japonicum and Sculptotheca hilleri were trapped at Daiyu-in Nitenmon. Large-scale survey in historic buildings in Nikko was conducted in 2010. About 27,000 adhesive traps were used for surveys in the loft and basement space of 72 historic wooden buildings. As a result,reality of living conditions of the Anobiids that can harm the buildings in the whole area was revealed. Hadrobregmus pertinax and Oligomerus japonicus, which were not found in the previous year, were also found in 2010. It is assumed that Anobiidae inhabit the entire Nikko area.
The distribution of pests in some major buildings have been scrutinized by previous large-scale survey data. As a result, some correspondences have been found with the results of visual survey of damage to building materials. Interesting ecological characteristics of wood-boring beetles were shown from the data, including light attraction. Those data can be useful for future treatments such as fumigation,as well as for restoration and conservation.journal articl
Development of X-ray Image Sensor for In-situ Investigation of Cultural Properties
Get PDFX-ray radiography has played an important role in the field of conservation science of cultural properties. Recently,the demand for in-situ analysis has increased further. In this situation,it is valuable for conservation scientists to develop new X-ray detectors that are suitable for their own studies.
For this purpose, the requirements for the new detector are as follows:
・It has high detection efficiency for high energy X-rays.
・The X-ray image can be checked immediately on-site.
・It should be a portable detector.
In this study, an X-ray radiography system was developed. It is composed of Gas Electron Multiplier foils, a new convertor to obtain high efficiency for high energy X-ray, and an X-Y strip readout board. This system was evaluated by irradiating with X-ray tube voltage of 50kV. The X-ray image of 2mm lead sheet with a square hole of1.5mm by1.5 mm was obtained by this system in this experiment.journal articl
Study of Temperature and Humidity Conditions Inside the Conservation Facility of Temiya Cave
Get PDFTemiya Cave is located at the west side of Otaru city. In Temiya Cave, which is designated as an important historical site,images are carved on the rock surface. After 14 years from the building of the conservation facility,the temperature sensors have deteriorated and it has become difficult to maintain the data logging system. In order to clarify the environmental condition, digital data loggers were set to measure temperature and humidity profile inside the exhibition room. From these measurements, it was found that temperatures in the exhibition case and on the rock surface changed in accordance with the outside air temperature. Temperature in the exhibition case changed from 2℃ to 21℃ when the outside air temperature changed from -10℃ to 33℃. This shows that the temperature in the exhibition case did not decrease below 0℃.
Furthermore,fungi were found inside the door of the exhibition case in 2006, 2008 and 2009. By examining the outside air temperature obtained from AMeDAS station, it was revealed that fungi were found in summer when maximum temperature was recorded and the temperature in the exhibition case was over 20℃. In order to keep the carved rock surface in good condition,it is also necessary to monitor the deformation of the cracks on the carved surface, although it was not done this time.journal articl
History of Shuri and Shufuku before Modern Age in Japan
Get PDFHistory of shuri (repair)and shufuku (restoration)in Japan is reviewed in this paper. The word shuri is now used for recovery of a function,while shufuku is used for recovery of a state. The concept of shuri may be regarded almost as old as the use of tools by human beings. The word shuri can be found in Kojiki,the oldest history book in Japan. The word shufuku was already used with the meaning “recovery of a state”at the latest by the 9th century. From the study of old collections of ancient tales, the existence of past people whose theory of shufuku was similar to that of present people can be confirmed. Even in the middle age (13th century), those people respected authenticity. There are not a few existing cultural properties which have documents showing that they were restored in the past. If such past shuri and shufuku are studied,not only the past concept and methods but also the results can be understood. Such a study will help in predicting what will happen after examining similar shuri and shufuku in the future.journal articl
Study on the Reduction of Acetic Acid from Cabinets for Microfilms
Get PDFConcentration of acetic acid in cabinets, film storage and adjacent room were measured. Two cabinets were filled with acetic acid generated from aged microfilms. Absorbents were placed in one of the cabinets to remove acetic acid. It was confirmed that
concentration of acetic acid decreased one week after setting the absorbents. Concentration in the other cabinet in which acetic-acid-absorbents were not placed remained high. From this result, it may be said that the absorbents were effective in reducing acetic acid from the first cabinet. Some amount of acetic acid was detected in the film storage. This is probably due to leakage from the cabinets. Similarly, some amount of acetic acid was detected in the adjacent room. This is probably due to leakage from the film storage.journal articl
Mushiro and Their Manufacturing Techniques
Get PDFA study is made of the technique for making mushiro, a type of straw mats, with focus on the changes in the form of the loom used, based on paintings of the medieval and early modern periods and existing folk materials.
Mushiro are mats made by weaving straw that were once an essential part of the people’s lives. They were also important sources of income and merchandise from old. It is known that there were mushiro weavers in the late Heian period and that mushiro were commonly made throughout the country in the modern period, their manufacture having been encouraged as a side job. In principle, manufacture of mushiro is similar to weaving. Straw ropes are stretched across a wooden frame called mushiro-bata to serve as warp, and pieces of straw are woven as weft. Each straw rope is passed through a wooden tool called kote which is used in the same way as a heddle in weaving. Kote is also used to beat and tighten the weft (straw) that has been passed through the warp. It is from this movement that making of mushiro is also called mushiro-uchi, or beating mushiro.
A comparative study of mushiro-bata found in historical documents and actual mushiro-bata of the modern period shows that there had been very little change in the technique of making mushiro during the medieval, early modern and modern periods in respect to the structure consisting of an upright, rectangular wooden frame and the use of kote. Furthermore, there were very little regional differences in the form of mushiro-bata. This implies that the development of the technique for manufacturing mushiro did not depend on inventions and improvements within given regions but that it was introduced to different regions after it had become fixed to a certain degree. In addition, it may be said that the structure of mushiro-bata itself was so simple that there was very little room for improvement and that the technique for manufacturing mushiro were introduced throughout the country from quite early on in history.
Mushiro are folk utensils that have very simple form and are made with very simple technique. However, people’s lives consisted of trifling techniques like that used to manufacture mushiro, and in that sense mushiro are very important in people’s lives even though they are simple, everyday utensils. Techniques and objects as well as ways of life that are unique or characteristic are investigated and documented when they are in danger of decline or loss; at times, they are even protected as folk cultural properties. However, simple, everyday techniques and knowledge are often forgotten and disappear from history. Thus, it is important to consider the necessity and urgency of accumulating research on folk techniques which may seem trifling like that of manufacturing mushiro.departmental bulletin pape