LACMA - Visit II 1/6/12

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  • January 8, 2012 at 3:07 pm #26312
    Anonymous
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    As Pat mentioned, the Japanese Pavillion at LACMA had a special exhibit dedicated to the Tsushima festival which occurs every mid summer along the river in the town of Tsuhima. The central attraction to the festival is the main Shinto Shrine. Boats that run along the river are decorated with lanterns and lights. The main art piece in the exhibit is a folding fan which shows the night festival with all its glory. The depiction of the festival on the folding fan reminded me of the Christmas boat festival in the Marina but on a larger scale.

    When I teach my unit on Medieval Japan, I will include a lesson on Japanese festivals and celebrations. Students can compare the Tsushima festival to other festivals and celebrations around the world.

    January 9, 2012 at 7:53 am #4492
    Rob_Hugo@PortNW
    Keymaster

    The second part of my visit to LACMA took place in the Japanese Pavillion. We took the 1:30 tour which turned out to be a good idea.

    We began by viewing a very large fan (over 100 years old) with a wood block print (both sides) about the Tsushima festival. Keeping this fan our tour leader said is like keeping a souvenir from the Rose Parade for 100 years. We were told that many towns in Japan have these festivals. The one in Tsushima is held every July 14-15. It originated as a Shinto appeal to the gods for a good year....it has been held so long that the samurai were among the earlier sponsors. The center focus of the night festival are the 5 barges, each barge with a 4-story high tower of lanterns. The lanterns are not illuminated with flashlights, but still with candles.

    Around the corner from the fan was a magnificent screen: The Night Festival of Tsushima Shrine In about 1930 an American woman bought two candle stick holders at an estate sale and was told as she was leaving that the screen came with the candle stick holders. The screen stayed in the Boston museum for many years until they no longer had a need.......one of the curators at LACMA jumped at the chance to buy the screen when it came on the market. It was in such need of repair that it had to be sent to Kyoto for repair.

    The screen offers a fascinating look at the festival at Tsushima.....the more you study the panel the more detail you can pick out about the people at the festival......for example one barge looks like it is going off course (similar to a float that needs to be pulled by a jeep at the Rose Parade), some houses of the rich built right near the water's edge, other poorer people sitting on the bank eating dinner.....this offers some possibilities to tie into the 7th grade study of Japan....by studying the screen, students could write about what they see and how this helps to explain what life was like in medieval Japan. We also had an opportunity to see a visual of the festival today ...... same idea of barges and good times and lots of food (such as grilled octopus and ices).

    January 9, 2012 at 7:53 am #26313
    Anonymous
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    I reflected on the idea of water festivals during the holidays and how beautiful the boats are full of lights and decorations, I have been to several in CA both in southern and northern CA. Traditions all begin somewhere and I wonder if this tradition is not a Japanese cultural tradition diffused in America. Ironically both festivals are in the evening and on the water decorated with lights and/or lanterns, with food and fun for all. The art piece at the musemum had an interesting history as to how it was procured by LACMA. I also enjoyed the colors depicting the literal, golden night sky.

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