Aizu lacquerware

Lacquerware is a specialty of Aizuwakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture. Its origins date back a long time, particularly from records of the Hōtoku era (1449-1452) when the 11th head of the Ashina clan, Morinobu, encouraged the cultivation of urushi trees, and the 13th head, Moritaka, had woodturners make bowls, trays, and pots coated with red and black lacquer. The Hihara Gun Monogatari, compiled during the Bunmei era (1469-1487), provides evidence that there were more than 70 woodturners in Hihara at the foot of Mt. Bandai. In 1590 (Tensho 18), Gamo Ujisato became the feudal lord and relocated many woodworkers and lacquerers from his hometown in Omi Province (Shiga Prefecture) to the area, where he attempted to industrialize lacquerware at a training center called Nuri Oyashiki, but the products were mainly for practical use. In 1627 (Kan'ei 4) during the Kato clan era, Kaito Gohei produced simple products in the style of Hidehira bowls, decorated with a style known as Aizu-e. During the Kansei era (1789-1801) under the Matsudaira clan, the clan elder Genzai Tanaka invited craftsmen from Kyoto who worked with gold powder, gold leaf, lacquer, and powder lacquerware, and the clan itself provided technical guidance on lacquerware production, and during the Kyowa era (1801-1804) Aizu lacquerware was exported from Nagasaki. Currently, Aizu is one of Japan's leading producers of lacquerware, mainly tableware and furniture, and was designated a "traditional craft" in 1976 (Showa 51).

[Goka loyal retainer]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

福島県会津若松市特産の漆器。そのおこりは古く、とくに宝徳(ほうとく)年間（1449～1452）蘆名(あしな)氏11代盛信がウルシの木の栽培を奨励したことや、13代盛高がろくろ木地挽(きじひ)きに赤や黒の漆を塗った椀(わん)、盆、鉢などをつくらせた記録より知られる。文明(ぶんめい)年間（1469～1487）成立の『桧原(ひはら)軍物語』に磐梯山麓(ばんだいさんろく)の桧原に70余軒の木地挽きがいたという裏づけがある。1590年（天正18）蒲生氏郷(がもううじさと)が領主となり、故郷の近江(おうみ)国（滋賀県）から木地師や塗師(ぬし)を多数移住させ、塗大屋敷とよぶ伝習所で漆器の産業化を図ったが、その製品は実用品がおもなものであった。加藤氏時代の1627年（寛永4）に海東五兵衛が会津絵とよぶ加飾をした秀衡椀(ひでひらわん)系統の素朴な製品をつくった。松平氏のもとでは、寛政(かんせい)年間（1789～1801）に家老田中玄宰によって京都から金粉、金箔(きんぱく)や漆塗、消粉蒔絵(まきえ)の工人を招き、藩自ら漆器製作の技術指導にあたり、かつ享和(きょうわ)年間（1801～1804）に長崎で会津漆器の輸出を行った。現在は日本有数の主として食器、家具の漆器産地で、1976年（昭和51）に「伝統的工芸品」の指定を受けた。

［郷家忠臣］

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