Page 28 - Catalogue of the Edward Morse collection of Japanese pottery MFA BOSTON

8 INTRODUCTION

lore, and religion. Such a study would make an important work by itself.
Space will admit only the briefest allusion to this most interesting subject.
The quaint and unexpected objects used as motives in decoration seem
very strange and curious to us until we know their meaning. A bowl
decorated with a fringe of straw, with sprig of pendent pine, or a red lobster
and spray of sasa, conveys no meaning, unless one has chanced to be in
Japan on New Year's Day, and has seen the tasteful decoration of straw,
pine, and red lobster over gateways or in front of houses. Natural scenery,
flowers, and the like are evidently clear enough ; but even these have their
significances. The landscape may show the site of some famous temple, or
historic ground upon which an heroic deed was done, or it may recall some
place celebrated for its beauty. The flowers also have their language, a
sentiment perhaps, or suggestion of some historic meeting. The methods
and motives used in the decoration of pottery may be roughly classified
under the following heads.

Animals and Plants
Drawings of the monkey, fox, and badger, with which are connected
many superstitions and curious stories, are often used as motives. Fishes
and birds, particularly water-birds, are common subjects. Among insects
the butterflies and stridulating insects lend themselves as subjects for the
artist. Shells and the cuttle-fish are not uncommon.

Natural Scenery and Natural Objects
Simple landscapes, running brooks, the peak of Fuji, sprays of flowers,
are very often used in decorating pottery. The effort of the artist is never
to overload. The spray of flowers, or simple landscape, appears on one side
of the bowl. The sketches are often of great merit, and we wonder at the
ability of a common potter to do this work, or to command such talent
The designs, however, are often copied from the masters : a heron, by
Okyo ; a monkey, by Sosen ; a bit of landscape or flash of fishes from some
Kano artist. In copies of this kind the decorator never mutilates the draw-
ing. If a spray of flowers is selected to adorn a bowl, the mass is drawn as
far as it will go on the outside, and then continued over the rim and down
the inside of the bowl, running to the bottom or across.

Associated Objects
There are many objects almost invariably grouped together. Among
the common examples are seen the lion and peony, whitewood and sacred