International studio (42.1910)

Japa7iese Art and Artists of To-day.—III.

Textiles and Embroidery

JAPANESE ART AND ARTISTS variety and charm about Japanese fabrics, which do

OF TO-DAY._III. TEXTILES not show that dead level of manufacturing excel-

AND EMBROIDERY BY WILSON lence to which factories and the extensive use of

CREWDSON MA steam machinery have accustomed us in the West.

Every Japanese fabric seems to some extent to

The Japanese textile fabrics of to day show in possess the same charm as a piece of ancient

a most interesting manner how the ancient arts of Greek pottery, which still shows the impress of the

Japan can be modified by the people of that fingers of the Greek craftsman who, thousands of

country to meet foreign demands. It is stated in years ago, thought about and moulded the jar

Japanese records that the Emperor Jimmu, who which he hoped would give pleasure to those who

founded the Imperial Dynasty in 660 b.c., en- came after him when he himself was dead and

couraged the manufacture of woven fabrics, which forgotten. It is this element of thought on the

in time attained such excellence that they were part of the producer, which he anticipated would

given to the Imperial Court as tribute. During be responded to by intelligent appreciation on the

the wars of the 16th century the industry nearly part of the spectator, that constitutes the great

died out, but was ultimately re-established by charm of Oriental art to those who have made it

Hideyoshi, in the suburbs of Kioto, a district their special study.

which has ever since taken the lead in this depart- The sub-divisions into which the processes

ment of industry. It is possibly owing to the of textile manufacture in the various villages

respect inspired by these ancient traditions that and districts of Japan may be divided were very

Japanese textile fabrics, both in design and manu- numerous; but many of these have almost ceased

facture, have not retrograded since the people of to be made since the break-up of the old feudal

Japan entered into commercial relations with the regime.

people of the West. Weaving is one of the village Brocades have always been held in the highest

industries of Japan, and as the means of commu- esteem in Japan, and there are many Japanese

nication between different parts of the Empire proverbs which tend to show how highly they have

were, until recently, not rapid, there is a marked always been valued. Perhaps the best is " Kokio

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AN ILLUSTRATION SHOWING AN ANCIENT JAPANESE LOOM FOR WEAVING BROCADES. FROM THE 'f SH0KUN1N
BURNI " BY TACHIBANA MINKO (1ST AD., VEDO, 1770)

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