Muneyoshi Yanagi

Art critic and religious philosopher. Known as an advocate of the Mingei movement. Born in Tokyo. His father was Rear Admiral and mathematician Yanagi Narayoshi. After graduating from Gakushuin, he graduated from the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Letters, Tokyo Imperial University (1913). While studying at Gakushuin Senior High School, he joined the founding (1910) of the literary magazine Shirakaba and became a member. He later introduced Korean crafts, the sculptures of Mokujiki Shonin, and the poetry of Blake and Whitman. From the end of the Taisho period, he formulated a theory of the beauty of folk art, and traveled throughout Japan and overseas to give lectures, conduct research, and collect art. He had comradely relationships with writers and craftsmen such as Shiga Naoya, Mushanokoji Saneatsu, Kawai Kanjiro, Hamada Shoji, and Bernard Leach, and worked to popularize the Mingei movement. He founded the magazines "Kogei" and "Mingei," and established the Japan Folk Crafts Museum in Komaba, Tokyo in 1936 (Showa 11), making a great achievement in shedding light on the beauty of folk crafts that had previously gone unnoticed. His unique oriental aesthetics, which he intuitionally established throughout his life, are collected in dozens of books, including "The Beauty of Miscellaneous Utensils" (1926) and "Japanese Folk Crafts" (1960). He was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit in 1957 (Showa 32).

His wife, Kaneko Yanagi (maiden name Nakajima, 1892-1984), was an alto singer. She was well known for her German songs and was elected a member of the Japan Art Academy in 1972.

[Shinichi Nagai September 16, 2016]

"Complete Works of Yanagi Muneyoshi, Works," 22 volumes (1980-1992, Chikuma Shobo)" ▽ "Yanagi Muneyoshi, by Tsurumi Shunsuke (1976, Heibonsha/Heibonsha Library)" ▽ "Together with Yanagi Muneyoshi, by Kotobuki Bunsho (1980, Shueisha)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

美術評論家、宗教哲学者。民芸運動の提唱者として知られる。東京生まれ。父は海軍少将で数学者の柳楢悦(ならよし)。学習院を経て、東京帝国大学文学部心理学科を卒業（1913）。学習院高等科在学中に文芸雑誌『白樺(しらかば)』の創刊（1910）に加わり、同人となる。のち朝鮮の工芸や木食上人(もくじきしょうにん)の彫刻、ブレイクとホイットマンの詩を紹介。大正末期より民芸美論をたて、講演と調査、収集のために日本全国と海外各地を旅行した。志賀直哉(しがなおや)、武者小路実篤(むしゃのこうじさねあつ)、河井寛次郎、浜田庄司(はまだしょうじ)、バーナード・リーチらの文学者や工芸家と同志的な交流をもち、民芸運動の普及に努めた。雑誌『工芸』『民芸』を創刊し、1936年（昭和11）に東京・駒場(こまば)に日本民芸館を創設、それまで顧みる者のなかった民衆の工芸の美を解明した功績は大きい。生涯を通じて直観によって打ち立てた独自の東洋美学は、著作『雑器の美』（1926）、『日本の民芸』（1960）など数十冊に収められている。1957年（昭和32）文化功労者。

　なお、夫人の柳兼子(かねこ)（旧姓中島。1892―1984）はアルト歌手。ドイツ歌曲に定評があり、1972年芸術院会員に選ばれた。

［永井信一　2016年9月16日］

『『柳宗悦全集　著作篇』全22巻（1980～1992・筑摩書房）』▽『鶴見俊輔著『柳宗悦』（1976・平凡社／平凡社ライブラリー）』▽『寿岳文章著『柳宗悦と共に』（1980・集英社）』

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