Japan has a long, rich history of storytelling-pairing narrative texts with elaborate illustrations. This tradition continues to influence modern-day Japanese storytelling through Manga and other forms of animation. The Met essentially expressed the cultural highlights of Japan’s storytelling past through elaborate hanging scrolls, screens, and books. The scrolls were of paramount importance in regards to the exhibit, as they recount the life and turbulent afterlife of Sugawara Michizane, a ninth-century poet-statesman said to have died of a broken heart after being unjustly slandered. This important figure in Japanese tradition is just one of the many people whose life achievements have been recorded on the scrolls. These hand scrolls or emaki are designed to draw viewers directly in to a story- allowing a rare opportunity for visitors to become entrenched in to the intellectually engaging work. They generally measure about one foot high and can extend for more than thirty feet. As the viewer is free to move through the scenes at his or her pace, it also allows for the physical experience of progression of time and space- the past is rolled away , the present is slowly uncovered, and the future waits to be seen.
Illustrated Legends of the Kitano Tenjin Shrine, from the 13th century
Artist:several unnamed artists
Title of Work: Storytelling in Japanese Art
Date of Work: 13th to 19th centuries
Curator: Masako Watanabe
Materials/Medium: illustrated books, folding screens, textiles, playing cards, emaki (illustrated handscroll), paintings,
Genre: Asian
Location: Metropolitan Museum of Art
I was alone when I viewed this exhibit
