Mitsudae - Mitsudae

A technique used in ancient Japanese paintings. Paintings (oil paintings) made by kneading pigments with oil that has been made to dry faster by adding lead oxide (mitsudaso). It also refers to paintings (nikawae) made by applying oil to the surface of ordinary paintings to give them a glossy finish. These techniques were introduced to Japan from China early on, and both were used from the Nara period to the early Heian period. The latter technique can also be seen in the Kamakura and Muromachi periods. When new techniques from the Ming dynasty were imported in the early modern period, vivid colors such as white that could not be produced with lacquer were highly valued and were often used to decorate lacquerware. Relics include the Tamamushi Zushi (Tamamushi Zushi) (Horyu-ji Temple), the Biwa (Japanese lute) in the Shosoin Repository, and the Kanbachi paintings of Ruan Xian. The term mitsudae was only used in the early modern period.

[Etsuko Kato]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

日本の古代絵画などに用いられた技法。密陀僧（酸化鉛）を加えて乾燥性を高めた油で顔料(がんりょう)を練って描いた絵（油画(ゆが)）。さらに、普通の絵の表面にこのような油をかけて光沢を出した絵（膠画(にかわえ)）もさす。これらの技法は早く中国からわが国に伝わり、ともに奈良時代から平安初期まで用いられた。また後者の技法は鎌倉・室町時代にもみられる。近世に入り明(みん)代の新技法が輸入されると、漆では発色できない白などの鮮明な色調が珍重され、漆器の装飾に多用された。遺品には「玉虫厨子(たまむしずし)」（法隆寺）や、正倉院の琵琶(びわ)・阮咸(げんかん)の捍撥(かんばち)画などがある。なお、密陀絵の語が用いられたのは近世以降である。

［加藤悦子］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例