Keywords

1 Introduction

There are various traditional crafts in Japan. Urushi crafts is one of the Japanese traditional crafts, and it has about 9000-year-old history in Japan. Urushi is resin from Japanese lacquer tree, and it has been used as painting material, artists’ paint and adhesive material in various life situations. A lot of good works were made in connection with Japanese culture, and many of them have been kept as the arts and craftwork. Urushi craftspeople have made these Urushi crafts works. Urushi crafts making process is divided into several processes, and there are specialized Urushi craftspeople in each process. Urushi crafts culture has been fostered in Kyoto, Japan for about 1200 years, and Urushi crafts technique has been inherited by many unknown Urushi craftspeople. However Urushi resin and Urushi crafts work do not used in present day because the lifestyle has been changed. A substitute material has been invented by the development of science and technology. In these surroundings, Urushi craftspeople continue to make the Urushi crafts work every day in order to hand on the Urushi crafts culture.

Many of Urushi crafts works have been collected as an art in the museum and art museum in Japan. There are also many Urushi crafts works in the world’s museum and art museum. These Urushi crafts works have been treasured, but some of them spent several hundred years being made, and need to be repaired. Persons on the street have also kept them, and they also need to be repaired. Urushi crafts people can repair these works. Before they repair the Urushi craft work, they need to observe the condition of the work by the naked eye. This observation is called “Mitate”. Expert Urushi craftspeople can identify many characteristics by conducting the Mitate, and they can plan to repair the Urushi crafts work. There are the researches on the Mitate of Urushi craftspeople in the previous researches [1–3], but the Mitate has not been analyzed with a focus on a making the Urushi crafts work.

This research aimed to examine how to understand the characteristics of the making process in the Urushi craftspeople. Urushi craftspeople conducted the Mitate, and they described the making process, material and so on. In this research, Maki-e technique was focused. Maki-e technique is one of the decoration techniques in the Urushi crafts. After painting Urushi on the basis, a design is drown by the Urushi and a metallic powder in the Maki-e technique.

2 Measurement

2.1 Subject

Table 1 showed the information of the subject. There were 8 subjects in this research. All of the subjects specialized in the Maki-e technique. The year of experience was about 60 years in the subject A and subject B. They were the expert Urushi craftspeople because they have long year of experience and have various experiences. The year of experience was about 12 years in the subject C. She was usually regarded as the full-fledged Urushi craftspeople because she has about 10 years of experience. Subject C, D, E, F, G and H were the Urushi craftspeople under training. Subject C, D, E, F, G and H learned the elementary Maki-e technique in the technical college of the traditional crafts technique. Training year was shorter than the year of experience.

Table 1. Information of the subject
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2.2 Urushi Crafts Work and Condition of Mitate

Figure 1 showed the Urushi crafts work used in this research. This Urushi crafts work has been named the Makie small box with typha latifolia and butterflies (Collection ID: AN.1616), and it is a collection of the Museum and Archives, Kyoto Institute of Technology. This work was selected because the Maki-e technique, Mother-of-pearl pasting and Urushi raising were used with balance, the number of types was not large, and the work was appropriate to compare the Mitate skill of Urushi craftspeople.

Fig. 1.
figure 1

Makie small box with typha latifolia and butterflies (Collection ID: AN.1616, Museum and Archives, Kyoto Institute of Technology).

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Conditions of Mitate were as follows.

  • Mitate was conducted in a fluorescent lighted room.

  • The small box was placed on a desk.

  • Allow the subject to hold and move the work in order to conduct Mitate easily.

  • When the subject hold or move the work, require wear of glove in order to protect the work.

  • Time limit of Mitate was 30 min.

  • Subject conducted the Mitate. And then, subject describeed the order of Maki-e making process, working point, working name and working content on a paper.

  • Description contents were compared among the subjects.

2.3 Maki-e Decoration of Urushi Crafts Work

Typha latifolia and butterfly were drawn in the small box by the Maki-e technique, Mother-of-pearl pasting and Urushi raising. Thin flat metallic powder (called “Nashiji-fun”) was sprinkled in the back of the typha latifolia and butterfly and inside the box. This was called “Ji-maki” in Japanese, but it was named “Base Maki-e” in this research. A part of the typha latifolia and butterfly was raised by Urushi. This technique was called “Taka-age” in Japanese, but it was named “Urushi raising” in this research. Metallic powder was sprinkled flatly in a leaf and stem of the typha latifolia. This technique was called “Hira Maki-e” in Japanese, but it was named “Maki-e” in this research. Mother-of-pearl was pasted in the feather of butterfly. This technique was called “Raden” or “Aogai” in Jpanese, but it was named “Mother-of-pearl pasting” in this research. Thin line was drawn on the butterfly. This technique was called “Keuchi” in Japanese, and this name was also used in this research. Very fine gold powder was sprinkled on the edge of box. This technique was called “Ikkake” in Japanese, and this name was also used in this research.

3 Result

3.1 Order of Mitate

Typha latifolia was drawn on this small box, but all of subjects regarded it as a silver grass. Typha latifolia was described as the silver grass from this section.

Subject A conducted the Mitate in order of Base Maki-e inside and outside the small box, Mother-of-pearl pasting, Urushi raising, Top of the leaf of silver grass, Butterfly, Keuchi, Leaf and stem of silver grass. Subject B did it in order of Base Maki-e inside the small box, Base Maki-e outside the small box, Leaf and stem of silver grass, Mother-of-pearl pasting, Urushi raising, Butterfly and spike of silver grass, Keuchi, Ikkake. Subject C did it in order of Base Maki-e inside the small box, Base Maki-e outside the small box, Mother-of-pearl pasting, Urushi raising, Butterfly and spike of silver grass, Leaf and stem of silver grass, Keuchi. Subject D did it in order of Base Maki-e inside and outside the small box, Urushi raising, Mother-of-pearl pasting, Butterfly and spike of silver grass, Butterfly and Leaf and stem of silver grass, Keuchi. Subject E did it in order of Base Maki-e inside and outside the small box, Mother-of-pearl pasting, Urushi raising, Butterfly and spike of silver grass, Leaf and stem of silver grass, Keuchi, Ikkake. Subject F did not describe the order. Subject G did it in order of Base Maki-e inside and outside the small box, Mother-of-pearl pasting, Urushi raising, Butterfly and spike of silver grass, Leaf and stem of silver grass, Ikkake. Subject H did it in order of Base Maki-e inside and outside the small box, Mother-of-pearl pasting, Butterfly and silver grass.

3.2 Description Content

Description content was divided into eight positions. The positions were Base Maki-e, Leaf and stem of silver grass, Spike of silver grass, Butterfly, Keuchi, Ikkake, Urushi raising, Mother-of-pearl pasting.

In the case of Base Maki-e, when the subject B, C and G described the characteristics, they distinguished between the inside box and the outside box. Subject A, B, D, E described silver or tin about the type of metallic powder. Most of the subjects described the Nashiji-fun about the shape type of metallic powder. Only subject B pointed out a possibility of Hirame-fun. Subject A, B, C, D, E described the number of metallic powder. Most of the subjects described low amount of sprinkling metallic powder. Only subject B pointed out a specific amount. Most of the subjects described the Nashiji Urushi about the type of Urushi for coating powder. Only subject F described the clear Urushi. Most of the subjects described the 2 or 3 times about the number of coating powder.

In the case of Leaf and stem of silver grass, number of answers was very low about the type of metallic powder, but gold and silver was described. The answer of Nobe-fun or Maru-fun was large. Nobe-fun was smaller powder than the Maru-fun No.1, and it did not have the number. Number of Maru-fun was pointed out the No.1 or a smaller than the No.1. Migaki-fun was one of the Maru-fun. It was regarded as the small size of Maru-fun like No.1, No.2, No.3 and No.4. Uwazuri Urushi was described about the type of Urushi for coating powder. Number of answers was low about the number of coating powder, but the number was 1 or 2 times. Only subject C was described the sprinkling powder with separating design.

In the case of Spike of silver grass, there were the answers of gold and silver about the type of metallic powder. Only subject C pointed out a colored Urushi powder. It was the powder that the colored Urushi was hardened, and it was grinded. There were many number of the answer of Maru-fun about the shape type of metallic powder. Togi-fun was one of the Maru-fun. It was regarded as the middle and big size of Maru-fun like from No.5 to No.15. However Subject B described the Nobe-fun, and subject F did the Nashiji-fun. Four subjects described the number of metallic powder, but the number was different. The answer of the Nashiji Urushi was large number about the type of Urushi for coating powder. Subject C and F pointed out Uwazuri Urushi in addition to the Nashiji Urushi. The answer of the feathering was large number about how to sprinkle metallic powder. There was less answer about the number of coating powder, but it was 1 or 2 times.

In the case of Butterfly, most of subjects described the gold and silver, but subject B and C also pointed out bluish gold. The number of metallic powder was described by only subject A, B, C, D and E, but most of the number was small number. Subject D and E also pointed out large number. Nashiji Urushi, Black Urushi, Red Urushi, Colored Urushi and Uwazuri Urushi was described about the type of Urushi for coating powder. Feathering and sprinkling powder without space were described about how to sprinkle metallic powder. Only subject D described the 2 coatings by Uwazuri Urushi.

Keuchi was one of the Maki-e techniques. The metallic powder was sprinkled in a thin line. It was made on the butterfly. The answer of the type of metallic powder was gold. The answer of the shape type of metallic powder was Nobe-fun or Maru-fun. The number of the metallic powder was smaller number than metallic powder No.1. The number of the type of Urushi for coating powder was Uwazuri Urushi.

In the case of Ikkake, the metallic powder was sprinkled without space. In this small box, it was made on the edge of the box. There were little descriptions in each item. The answer of the type of metallic powder was gold. The answer of the shape type of metallic powder was Nobe-fun or Maru-fun. All of subjects did not describe the number of metallic powder. The answer of the type of Urushi for coating powder was Uwazuri Urushi. Only subject F described 1 or 2 coatings by Uwazuri Urushi.

In the case of Urushi raising, an appearance of solidity was made in the design by raising Urushi. In this small box, it was made in the butterfly and spike of silver grass. Use of silver powder was described by the subject A, B and D. The number of metallic powder was No.1. Only subject D described the Maru-fun about the shape type of metallic powder. The answer of the type of Urushi was Taka-age Urushi. Only subject A pointed out the mixture of black and bengal Red Urushi.

In the case of Mother-of-pearl pasting, the mother-of-pearl was pasted on the surface of Urushi painting. In this small box, it was made in the butterfly. Most of subjects described the abalone about the type of shell. The answer of the shell thickness was thin. The answer of the type of bonding Urushi was black Urushi. Shell cutting was described by the subject A, E, F, G and H.

3.3 Number of Answer in Each Item

Figure 2 showed the description number of the item in each position. The item meant the “Material type of metallic powder”, “Shape type of metallic powder”, “Number of metallic powder”, “Amount of sprinkling metallic powder”, “Type of Urushi for coating powder” and “Number of coating powder” in the case of the Base Maki-e. For example, if there was the description in one item, it was counted one. The max of number was six in each subject in the Base Maki-e. The subjects except for the subject F could described in each item. The max of number was six in the Leaf and stem of silver grass. The number of subject D was larger than the other subject. The max of number was six in the Spike of silver grass. Subject B, C, D, E and F described in the more than half of items. The max of number was six in the Butterfly. Subject B, C, D and E described in the more than half of items. The max of number was four in the Keuchi. Subject A, B, C, D and E described in the more than half of items. The max of number was five in the Ikkake. Subject E, F and G described in many items. The max of number was four.in the Urushi raising. Subject A, B and D described in the more than half of items. The max of number was four in the Mother-of-pearl pasting. The subjects except for the subject C described in the more than half of items.

Fig. 2.
figure 2

Description number of the item in each position

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3.4 Number of Subject Described in Each Item and Each Positon

Figure 3 showed the number of subject described in each item and each positon. The number of subject describing in each item was large in the case of the Base Maki-e. The number of subject describing the type of metallic powder was six subjects, but the number of subject describing the other items was small in the case of the Leaf and stem of silver grass. The number of subject describing the type of metallic powder was six subjects, the number of subject describing the shape type of metallic powder was five subjects, and the number of subject describing the other items was small in the case of the Spike of silver grass. The number of subject describing the type of metallic powder was eight subjects, and the number of subject describing the other items was slightly large in the case of the Butterfly. The number of subject describing the type of Urushi for coating powder was five subjects, but the number of subject describing the other items was small in the case of the Keuchi. The number of subject describing each item was small in the case of the Ikkake. The number of subject describing the type of Urushi was five subjects, but the number of subject describing the other items was small in the case of the Urushi raising. The number of subject describing the type of shell was seven subjects, and the number of subject describing the other items was five subjects in the case of the Mother-of-pearl pasting.

Fig. 3.
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Number of subject described in each item and each positon

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Next, the subject was divided into two groups. The year of experience in traditional crafts technical school was subtracted from the year of Urushi craft experience. Then the year of Urushi craft experience was equal to or higher than five years in the case of the subject A, B, C and D. The year of the subject E was four years and eight months, and it was close to five years. Therefore, the subject A, B, C, D and E were regarded as a long year experience group. On the other hand, the subject F, G and H were regarded as a short year experience group because the year of Urushi craft experience was shorter than the five years in the case of the subject F, G and H. Figure 4 showed the ratio of the number of the each group subject describing in each item.

Fig. 4.
figure 4

Ratio of the number of the each group subject describing in each item

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In the case of the Base Maki-e, the ratio of the number of the long year experience group subject describing the type of metallic powder and the number of the metallic powder was higher than the short year experience group, and the ratio of the number of both groups was high in the other items. In the case of the Leaf and stem of silver grass, the ratio of the number of the long year experience group subject describing the type of metallic powder and the number of the metallic powder was higher than the short year experience group, there wasn’t so much of a difference in the other items between the long year experience group and the short year experience group, and the ratio of the number of both groups was low in the type of Urushi for coating powder and the number of coating powder. In the case of the Spike of silver grass, the ratio of the number of the long year experience group subject describing the number of the metallic powder and how to sprinkle metallic powder was higher than the short year experience group, there wasn’t so much of a difference in the other items between the long year experience group and the short year experience group, and the ratio of the number of both groups was low in the number of coating powder. In the case of the Butterfly, the ratio of the number of the long year experience group subject describing the number of the metallic powder was higher than the short year experience group, there wasn’t so much of a difference in the other items between the long year experience group and the short year experience group, and the ratio of the number of both groups was high in the other items. In the case of the Keuchi, only the subject of the long year experience group described in the type of metallic powder, the shape type of metallic powder and the number of the metallic powder, and the ratio of the number of the long year experience group subject describing the type of Urushi for coating powder was higher than the short year experience group. In the case of the Ikkake, the ratio of the number of the short year experience group subject describing the shape type of metallic powder and the type of Urushi for coating powder was higher than the long year experience group. In the case of the Urushi raising, the ratio of the number of the long year experience group subject describing the type of metallic powder, the number of metallic powder and the type of Urushi was higher than the short year experience group. In the case of the Mother-of-pearl pasting, the ratio of the number of both groups was high, and the ratio of the number of the short year experience group subject describing the shell cutting was higher than the long year experience group.

4 Discussion

Basic order of Mitate is the order of the Base Maki-e, Mother-of-pearl pasting, Urushi raising, Butterfly and silver grass, Keuchi, Ikkake. The order of subject except for subject F was almost the same. It is found that the subject with short year of experience can understand the basic order of making Maki-e.

Only subject B and C pointed out the order of the inside and outside of the small box in the Base Maki-e. Other subject did not distinguish between them. Especially, subject G could not the making process of the inside of the box. Most of subject pointed out the low amount in the amount of sprinkling metallic powder. Only subject B pointed out the 50 % amount inside the box, and 70 % amount outside the box. Subject B considered the amount of the powder. It is found that the subject B can set a subdivision process by identifying the Base Maki-e as two processes. Subject A, B, D and E pointed out the other metal except for gold. When the small box is observed closely, the corrosion is noticed around the metallic powder. It is found that they have an experience which they identify the characteristics.

There were many characteristics pointed out by the subject B, C, D and E in the case of the Butterfly and silver grass. Especially, Subject A, B, C, D and E could point out the number of the metallic powder, but the subject F, G and H could not point out it. This result suggests it is difficult to identify the number of the metallic powder for the subject with short year of experience.

Most of subject could point out the type of shell in the case of the Mother-of-pearl pasting. Subject B, C and D did not point out the characteristics except for the type of shell. However it is difficult to think that they cannot identify the other characteristics because they can point out the number of metallic powder. It seems that they skip the description, and it is easy to identify the characteristics of the Mother-of-pearl pasting for the subject with short year of experience.

Subject with short year of experience pointed out the more characteristics than the subject with long year of experience in the case of the Ikkake. As is the case with the Mother-of-pearl pasting, it seems that the subjects with long year of experience skip the description, and it is easy to identify the characteristics of the Ikkake for the subject with short year of experience.

Subject A, C, D, E and F could pointed out the Taka-age Urushi, but only subject A,B and D could the possibility of using silver powder in the case of the Urushi raising. It is easy to point out the Taka-age Urushi. However it seems that the subject with short year of experience cannot point out the silver powder because it is not much used in the Urushi raising technique in very time.

As these results, it is found that the material type and shape type of the metallic powder are identified by most of the subjects regardless of the year of experience, and the subject with long year of experience can identify the detail characteristics like the number of metallic powder and the use of silver powder in the Urushi raising. The subject with long year of experience tends to skip the description of characteristics in the Mother-of-pearl pasting and the Ikkake. On the other hand, the subject with short year of experience identifies the characteristics of the Mother-of-pearl pasting and the Ikkake. It is assumed that it is easy to identify the characteristics of them for the subject with short year of experience because they identify many characteristics.

The subject with long year of experience can identify the many characteristics in each making process. The year of experience in traditional crafts technical school is subtracted from the year of Urushi craft experience, and the year of experience of subject C and D is equal to or higher than five years, its year of subject E is about five years. It suggests that subject A and B are regarded as the expert, subject C and D have the experience of the full-fledged Urushi craftspeople, subject E are growing into the full-fledged Urushi craftspeople, and subject F, G and H are needed to train the Maki-e technique.

5 Conclusion

This research aimed to examine how to understand the characteristics of the making process in the Urushi craftspeople. Urushi craftspeople conducted the Mitate, and they described the making process, material and so on. As the result, it is found that the Urushi craftspeople with long year of experience can identify the detail characteristics like the number of metallic powder in the Maki-e making process. Minimum of 5 years is considered appropriate for the training year as the craftspeople because the craftspeople with up to 5 years of experience in the Urushi crafts studio cannot identify the many characteristics. Moreover, the characteristics identification is important skill in the Mitate because the making process is changed when the metallic powder is changed in the Maki-e technique. Therefore, it seems that the Urushi craftspeople with short year of experience cannot identify the characteristics of the work enough, and the work is not repaired accurately. Non-expert needs to get the knowledge about characteristics in appearance based on the change of various materials and making processes in their daily training.