Tamakajizokoku - Tamakajizokoku

A lacquer craftsman from the end of the Edo period to the early Meiji period. He was the son of Fujikawa Rizaemon, a lacquerer in Takamatsu, and was named Tamezo, commonly known as Masanao or Keizo. Zokoku was his pen name. He learned lacquering and carving from his father, and later acquired the techniques of Chinese Zonsei, Tsuishu, Tsuikoku, Safflower and Green Leaf, and Thai Kinma lacquering, and developed a style of work that incorporated his own techniques. In 1830 (Tenpo 1), under the patronage of Matsudaira Yorihiro, the feudal lord, he was given the surname Tamakozo, and his works were given as gifts to shoguns and feudal lords as masterpieces representing the Takamatsu domain, earning him nationwide fame. His works were called Zokoku lacquering and Sanuki carving, and became the origins of today's Takamatsu lacquerware and Kagawa lacquerware. He is also known for his lacquerware made of ajiro-kiji (woven cloth) and a basket-shaped base, and his representative work is the Matsudaira Kokeikai's "Konsho-ryu (patterned dragon) patterned paper box and inkstone box." This technique was passed down to his younger brother, Fujikawa Kokusai (Bunkido), and his children, Zokoku Rikichi and Toju.

[Goka loyal retainer]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

江戸末期から明治初期の漆工。高松の鞘塗師(さやぬし)藤川理左衛門の子で、名は為造(ためぞう)、通称は正直または敬造。象谷は号。父から漆塗と彫刻を修得し、のち中国の存星(ぞんせい)、堆朱(ついしゅ)、堆黒(ついこく)、紅花緑葉(こうかりょくよう)やタイの蒟醤(きんま)塗の技術を会得、独自の技法に消化した作風を開拓した。1830年（天保1）藩主松平頼恕(よりひろ)の庇護(ひご)を受けて玉楮姓を受け、その作品は高松藩を代表する名品として将軍や大名への贈り物になり、全国的な名声を博した。彼の作品は象谷塗、讃岐彫(さぬきぼり)とよばれて今日の高松漆器、香川漆器の源流となった。また網代素地(あじろきじ)の籃胎(らんたい)漆器に特色があり、その代表作に松平公益会の『蒟醤竜文料紙箱および硯(すずり)箱』がある。その技術は弟の藤川黒斎(こくさい)（文綺堂(ぶんきどう)）、子の蔵黒(ぞうこく)理吉・藤樹らによって受け継がれた。

［郷家忠臣］

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