The netsuke (根付) is a Japanese traditional object being used to maintain the Sagemono , of small objects suspended on the Obi , broad band of fabric maintaining the Kimono. The netsuke is fixed at the end of a cord and acts like a block on the top of the Obi ; at the other end of the cord, hangs the traditional necessary equipment: material to write ( Yatate ), the purse, the case with pipe ( Kiseru-zutsu ), the seal or drug box ( Inrô ) or buckles it obi ( Obidome ).

The word breaks up étymologiquement into 根 ( , root), and 付 ( tsuke , to attach).

Aspect

The functional aspect of the netsuke is undeniable: it prevents the sagemono from falling. If, at the beginning, the netsuke were only one small piece of unspecified wood, it was quickly transformed into true work of art, finely sculpté.
A netsuke can be various forms ( katabori , in sculpture in the round; manju , round and flattened; sashi , lengthened as a dagger) but it is always characterized by its small size (between 3 and 8 cm) and by the himotoshi (two small holes communicating allowing to make pass the cord in the netsuke ).

Many materials are used for the realization of the netsuke : mainly the Wood (boxwood, ebony, cypress, cherry tree…), but also the Ivory (elephant, cachalot, Morse) and the bone. There exist also sculptures in bamboo, porcelain, lacquer, coral or metal.

History

The netsuke seems to be used initially in China, in XVIe century. However, it is in Japan, at the XVIIe century, that he makes formidable great strides (Period Edo). Whereas the ostentation of the richnesses is repressed and that the vestimentary aspect is strictly controlled by the laws of the Shogun, the Japanese rich person find a parade with this moroseness and make carve sumptuous (though discrete) netsuke that they carry to their obi . At that time, a great quantity of netsuke , mainly out of ivory whose smoothness of the sculpture is incomparable, will be réalisée.
Starting from the era Meiji, the opening to the western world is of rigor: the kimono is gradually forsaken, thus involving the end of the use of the netsuke . However, of many netsuke-shi continue to carve this traditional object.

Topics

The netsuke generally represents a character or an animal, sometimes a god or a personality of mythology. The characters are either of the actors of the theaters Kabuki or No , or of simple Japanese resulting from the daily life (fishermen, merchants, samurais). The mythological personalities represented are often Hoteï, Shôki, Ashinaga, Tenaga, Daruma or Fukurokuju. The bestiary is in particular composed of Shishi (dog of Fô) and of Kappa .

See too

Gallery

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