Page 310 - JAPAN THE SHAPING OFDAIMYO CULTURE 1185-1868

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231 Shôgiset was popular in both court and temple cir- 233 Set of utensils for the incense game
mdki-e lacquer on wood cles, and eventually was embraced by the maki-e lacquer on wood; silver, ebony
h. 23.0 (QV'IO) warrior class. Shogi is believed to have box 13.2 x 24.0 x 18.0 (53/16 x 97/16 x
Edo period, icth century originated in India, though it spread 7>/8)
widely and developed in a number of dif- Edo period, i8th century
Tokyo National Museum
ferent forms. Japanese shogi is related to
the Chinese form. Although it is not clear Eisei Bunko, Tokyo
when it arrived in Japan, by the Kamakura In the Heian period, the fragrance of aro-
232 Go set period it was enjoyed by members of the matic wood was enjoyed by members of
maki-e lacquer on wood court class. In cat. 105, warriors can be court society. The appreciation of incense
h. 28.2 (ni/s) seen playing both games. A total of six became formalized in the Muromachi pe-
Edo period, icth century types of shogi are known; the type known riod, much like tea drinking and flower ar-
Tokyo National Museum as shdshdgi (small shogi), which eclipsed ranging, and many varieties of monkd,
most of the others from the Sengoku pe- literally "listening to the incense," were es-
These two sets of board games, one for riod, is the type illustrated in the screens. tablished. Throughout the Edo period, en-
shogi, sometimes called Japanese chess The boards of both games are usually thusiasts of this widely popular game
(cat. 231), and the other for go (cat. 232), made from the wood of either the oak or included members of the warrior class.
were made as part of the bridal furnishings kaya (Japanese nutmeg) tree; the latter is This set of incense utensils, handed down
for the daughter of Harutomi (1771-1852), preferred today. The black pieces used in in the Hosokawa family, is decorated with
the tenth-generation Tokugawa ruler of go are made of black stone, with that from the kuyô mon, the Hosokawa family crest,
the Wakayama domain in Kii Province Ñachi in Wakayama Prefecture especially and a floral scroll in maki-e lacquer on a
(cat. 230). Although it is not typical for prized. WA pear-skin ground (nashiji); the metal imple-
these games to be decorated with maki-e ments are made of silver. The wife of Shi-
lacquer, these are decorated like the other gekata (1720-1785), a mid-Edo-period
components of the set, with the maki-e Hosokawa daimyo of Kumamoto, is said to
hollyhock mon. The game pieces for the have used this set. SN
shogi set, usually made of wood, are made
of ivory, reflecting the high position of the
Kii Tokugawa house.
Go (also called igo) is thought to have
originated in ancient China, arriving in Ja-
pan during the Asuka period (552-645). It

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